w^'^^mmmmMmmmmmmsmm^ms^^ 


1-2 

N5935me 


Stom  t^e  feifirarg  of 
(pxofmox  ^im<xm  (}Stif?tt  (pa^ton,  ©.©.,  &&.©. 

to  f^e  EiBrarg  ot 


Q()nnceton  ^^^eofo^cdf  ^emtndrj) 

BX    9225    .N54   M4    1901 


Memoir  of  Henry  Edward 
Niles,  1823-1900 


Henry  Edward  Niles 


OF 


HENRY  EDWARD  NILES 


1823— 1900 


NEW    YORK 

PRIVATELY    PRINTED 

MCMI 


®J)e  Croto  |)rinttnff  Companp 


PAGE 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER   I. 
Introductory     7 

CHAPTER   II. 

Ancestry,  Life,  and  Character      .         .         -15 

CHAPTER   III. 
Last  Services  and  Death        .        .         .         .     23 

CHAPTER   IV. 
Funeral 33 

CHAPTER   V. 

Action  of  Various  Boards  and  Societies       .     51 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Letters  of  Condolence 71 

CHAPTER   VII. 
Sermons 87 


trfHE    RIGHTEOUS    SHALL    FLOURISH    LIKE 

JJ-l     THE    PALM    TREE:    HE    SHALL    GROW 

LIKE   A   CEDAR    IN    LEBANON.      THOSE   THAT 

BE    PLANTED    IN   THE    HOUSE    OF   THE    LORD 

SHALL    FLOURISH    IN    THE    COURTS    OF    OUR 

GOD. 

THEY    SHALL    STILL    BRING    FORTH    FRUIT 

IN    OLD    AGE;    THEY    SHALL    BE    FAT    AND 

FLOURISHING ;— TO    SHOW   THAT   THE    LORD 

IS   UPRIGHT. 

PSALM  XCII.    12-15. 


CHAPTER   I 


Introductory 


OUNTLESS  have  been  the  palm  trees 
and  cedars  that  have  grown  tall  and 
spread  wide  their  fruit-laden  branches  on 
Mount  Zion! 

This  Memorial  is  of  one  cut  down  at 
seventy-six  in  his  prime  and  vigor. 
After  fifty-two  years  of  service  as 
Ambassador  of  the  King  of  Kings,  Henry  Edward  Niles 
delivered  his  last  message  and  was  called  up  to  appear  in 
the  Court  of  his  Sovereign  to  be  acknowledged  before  "  the 
principalities  and  powers  in  heavenly  places." 

His  daily  prayer  that  "  when  the  youths  should  faint  and 
be  weary  and  the  young  men  utterly  fall,  he  might  so  wait 
upon  the  Lord  as  to  renew  his  strength — run  and  not  be 
weary,  walk  and  not  faint,"  was  most  signally  fulfilled: — 
"  To  show  that  the  Lord  is  upright." 

At  three-score  and  sixteen,  with  all  his  faculties  of  body 
and  mind  in  full  exercise,  Dr.  Niles  still  had  the  entire 
charge  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  York,  Pa.,  which 
he  had  shepherded  for  thirty-five  years.  The  church  was 
never  so  strong  and  aggressive.  He  seemed  as  young  in 
spirit,  as  full  of  energy  and  magnetism,  as  when,  in  1865,  at 

[7] 


a^cmoir  of  i^entp  €tihjarti  0i\t^ 

his  first  public  appearance  before  a  general  audience  in 
York,  he  stirred  the  crowd  by  his  eloquence  on  Lincoln's 
martyrdom. 

Abreast  of  all  modern  methods,  he  knew  which  of  the 
new  movements  of  philanthropy  to  harness  to  the  "  old,  old 
story  "  of  the  cross.  He  believed  that  every  living  root  of 
Brotherhood  sprang  out  of  Calvary.  To  the  last  he  was  a 
progressive  conservative. 

His  watchful  eye  was  ever  on  the  alert  to  test  all  im- 
provements in  church  machinery,  and  mark  their  practical 
effects  upon  the  running  of  the  wheels  of  spiritual  life — 
to  adopt  them  if  they  gave  good  results,  or  discard  them 
if  they  produced  friction. 

So,  like  a  palm  tree,  he  stood  in  the  full  strength  of  his 
matured  manhood,  bearing  fruit  on  the  topmost  bough: — 
"  To  show  that  the  Lord  is  upright !  " 

He  had  not  come  to  feel  the  physical  limitations  or  in- 
firmities of  age. 

Never  did  he;  sit  more  master  of  his  spirited  horse  or 
come  back  from  a  ride  more  exhilarated  and  full  of  virile 
life  than  at  seventy-six  years  of  age.  Indeed,  his  erect 
form  and  elastic  step  testified  how  lightly  the  years  rested 
on  him,  in  spite  of  the  snow,  that  never  melts,  which 
whitened  his  beard,  and  the  almond  blossoms  in  his  hair. 

His  keen  sense  of  humor  and  enjoyment  of  a  hearty  laugh 
no  doubt  lubricated  his  mental  and  bodily  machinery. 

His  warm,  responsive  nature  showed  itself  in  the  mag- 
netic eye,  genial  smile,  and  cordial  grasp.  Many  times  was 
it  said:  "Just  to  have  Dr.  Niles  stop  and  speak  to  me  on 
the  street  made  my  burden  lighter.  I  felt  as  if  I  had  heard 
a  strain  of  martial  music  and  could  march  faster." 

The  last  three  or  four  years  had  crowded  the  spacious 
church  to  its  utmost  capacity.     It  had  become  impossible 

[8] 


for  families  to  obtain  pews  and  many  were  compelled  to 
wait  months  for  seats,  until  it  seemed  necessary  to  enlarge 
the  beautiful  edifice  to  accommodate  those  desirous  of 
making  it  their  church  home. 

One  characteristic  of  his  congregations  was  marked  by 
visitors.  The  proportion  of  men  in  attendance  in  church 
and  chapel,  especially  young  men,  was  unusually  large. 
They,  indeed,  were  the  most  ardent  admirers,  devoted 
friends,  and  loyal  supporters  of  their  pastor,  and  he  wielded 
through  them  a  powerful  influence. 

He  tried  to  imbue  them  with  his  own  high  ideals  of 
Christian  manhood  and  civic  righteousness. 

So  he  brought  forth  fruit  in  old  age,  "  to  show  that  the 
Lord  is  upright,"  and  was  an  example  of  the  fulfillment  of 
the  promise: — "The  righteous  shall  flourish  like  the  palm 
tree;   he  shall  grow  like  a  cedar  in  Lebanon." 

He  often  spoke  of  God's  distinguishing  goodness  to  him, 
Who,  as  he  said,  "  put  upon  each  morning's  brow  the  two 
crowns  of  loving-kindness  and  tender  mercy!  " 

Keble's  hymn  commencing, 

"  New  mercies  each  succeeding  day 
Hover  around  us  while  we  pray; 
New  perils  past,  new  sins  forgiven, 
New  thoughts  of  God,  new  hopes  of  Heaven," 

and 

"  Awake  my  soul,  with  rapture  rise, 
And  now  the  God  of  grace  adore ; 
Awake  my  soul,  awake  my  heart, 
And  with  the  angels  bear  a  part," 

were,  frequently,  his  first  waking  words. 

In  life's  afternoon  he  seemed  to  mellow  and  grow  more 
genial. 

[9] 


Always  a  social  centre  and  responsive,  the  delight  of 
every  company  he  entered,  his  presence  was  coveted,  and 
an  eager  welcome  awaited  him  at  the  family  gatherings  of 
his  people  and  his  neighbors,  and  at  their  holidays  and 
literary  circles. 

His  dramatic  recitations  of  classical  selections  were 
prized  as  a  great  elocutionary  treat. 

His  flow  of  good  fellowship  was  unfailing.  His  manner 
of  mingling  the  playful  and  serious  with  that  rare  tact 
which  is  such  a  magical  solvent  in  social  life,  made  him  as 
welcome  to  the  young  and  gay  as  to  the  serious  and 
mature. 

So  he  bore  fruit  on  the  topmost  bough: — "  To  show  that 
the  Lord  is  upright!  " 

He  Hterally,  practically,  "  walked  with  God."  He  talked 
with  Him,  consulted  Him  about  everything;  at  the  family 
altar,  round  which  all  the  household  gathered,  and  in  that 
"  study "  by  whose  locked  door  everyone  passed  rever- 
ently, when  he  spoke  to  the  Father  in  secret,  as  friend  to 
friend.  He  had  the  most  child-like,  humble  belief  in  a 
prayer-answering  God  who  had  put  the  condition  of  ask- 
ing before  receiving.  He  never  made  an  engagement  or 
any  important  decision,  a  plan  for  a  day's  journey,  a  call, 
or  wrote  a  letter  without  consulting  his  omniscient  family 
Friend  for  the  wisdom  which  is  promised  to  him  who  asketh 
"  without  wavering." 

So,  waiting  on  the  Lord,  he  was,  progressively,  of  good 
courage. 

This  made  him  brave  and  fearless  in  meeting  that  future 
which  his  covenant-keeping  God  had  planned  out  for  him 
in  Omniscient  Love.  He  understood  in  his  own  experi- 
ence every  day  what  is  the  perfect  love  that  casts  out  fear; 
how  "  Those  that  be  planted  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  shall 

[lo] 


a^emoir  of  ijcnrp  <!EtitDarti  #ile^ 

flourish  in  the  courts  of  our  God: — To  show  that  the  Lord 
is  upright." 

During  the  year  1900  the  chapel  was  greatly  enlarged 
and  all  modern  improvements  added  to  make  the  church 
plant,  its  grounds,  manse,  chapej,  and  temple  of  worship 
perfect  in  all  their  appointments. 

With  the  completion  of  the  improvements,  Dr.  Niles  was 
full  of  new  plans  for  a  more  aggressive  campaign  of  Sunday- 
school  work. 

That  "study"— the  Holy  of  Holies  of  the  beautiful 
home — that  had  so  often  before  been  a  Peniel,  was  recon- 
secrated. 

A  special  tenderness  and  solemnity  came  down  upon  the 
church  services  and  warmed  the  atmosphere  of  Sunday- 
school  and  Christian  Endeavor  and  prayer-meeting.  To 
their  pastor's  invitation  to  meet  him  for  personal  religious 
conversation,  many  who  had  long  been  special  objects  of 
prayer  and  effort  responded. 

Night  after  night,  as  the  chapel  was  not  quite  ready  for 
occupation,  the  parlor  and  study  of  the  manse  were  filled 
with  those  of  all  ages,  from  whose  soul-vision  the  Spirit  had 
removed  the  cataracts  of  unbelief  so  that  they  saw  the  reali- 
ties of  the  world  to  come„ 

Some  twenty-five  came  to  the  Lord's  Supper  for  the  first 
time  in  March  and  a  larger  number  waited  for  the  June 
sacrament. 

So  at  his  last  communion  this  blessed  pastor  saw  those 
for  whom  he  had  watched  and  prayed  sitting  with  him  at 
the  table  of  his  Master  He  continued  the  meetings  with 
still  greater  success  till  he  was  compelled  to  drop  every- 
thing and  go  for  what  all  supposed  would  be  a  brief  rest 
at  Atlantic  City. 

His  assistant,  Rev.  David  Curry,  came  during  his  illness 


a^cmoir  of  i^cnrp  Ctitoarti  ^iW 

and  continued  the  meetings,  and  another  harvest  of  souls 
was  gathered  into  the  church  at  the  June  communion,  after 
he  himself  had  gone  up  to  sit  down  at  the  Marriage 
Supper  of  the  Lamb. 

Never  was  there  a  more  hushed,  tearful,  solemn  assem- 
blage. It  hardly  required  the  "  sixth  sense  "  of  faith  to 
recognize  the  encompassing  cloud  of  witnesses — holy 
women  and  noble  men,  the  fruits  of  his  early  labors,  now 
joined  in  the  spirit  world  by  the  pastor  and  guide,  and 
sharing  with  him  angelic  joy  over  this  "  aftermath  "  of  his 
sowing  of  the  seeds  of  truth. 

"  The  righteous  shall  flourish  like  the  palm  tree;  he  shall 
bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age;  he  shall  be  fat  and  flourishing: — 
To  show  that  the  Lord  is  upright." 


|-I2] 


"  Four  things  a  man  must  learn  to  do 
If  he  would  m,ake  his  record  true : 
To  think  without  confusion  clearly  / 
To  love  his  fellow-men  sincerely  / 
To  act  from  honest  motives  purely  ; 
To  trust  in  God  and  heaven  securely ^ 


[14] 


CHAPTER    II 

Ancestry,  Life,   and  Character 

HENRY  EDWARD  NILES  was  of  an  old  New 
England  family.  He  was  born  August  15,  1823, 
at  South  Hadley,  Mass.,  the  second  child  of  Will- 
iam Niles  and  Sophia  Goodrich;  and  was  descended,  in  the 
seventh  generation,  from  Captain  John  Niles,  who  came 
from  Wales  in  1630,  settled  in  Abington,  Mass.,  and  after- 
ward removed  to  Braintree. 

William  Niles  moved  with  his  family  to  Spencertown, 
Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  when  Henry  was  about  five  years 
old;  and  the  boy  spent  his  youth  amid  the  beauties  of  the 
Hudson  River  and  Berkshire  Hills. 

He  was  graduated  from  Union  College,  Schenectady, 
N.  Y.,  in  1844,  and  from  Princeton  Theological  Seminary 
in  1848,  and  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Columbia 
and  installed  pastor  of  Valatie  (Kinderhook),  N.  Y.,  Octo- 
ber 24,  1848. 

In  1855  broken  health  compelled  him  to  spend  about  a 
year  in  travel  and  recreation;  after  which  he  supplied  the 
church  at  Angelica,  N.  Y. 

From  1859  until  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  served  as 
"  pastor-elect  "  of  the  North  Church  of  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

[15] 


In  1861  he  was  called  to  Albion,  N.  Y.,  from  whence, 
after  a  very  successful  ministry,  he  came  to  York. 

In  1875  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
from  Wooster  University. 

June  26,  1850,  at  Lowell,  Mass.,  he  married  Jeannie  E., 
daughter  of  Sumner  Marsh,  whose  qualities  and  efforts  so 
supplemented  and  aided  his  as  to  make  their  lives  a  har- 
monious whole  of  joint  devotion  to  all  that  is  good,  un- 
selfish and  beautiful. 

Since  April  16,  1865,  Dr.  Niles  was  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  at  York,  Pa. 

During  these  years  his  strong  character  and  devotion  to 
principle  and  duty,  aided  by  peculiarly  responsive  sympathy, 
and  enforced  by  no  ordinary  eloquence  and  a  ready  pen, 
made  him  an  influential  factor  in  the  religious  and  intel- 
lectual life  and  development  of  the  town  and  county. 

Under  his  charge  the  church  constantly  increased  in 
numbers,  philanthropy,  and  influence;  branches  were  estab- 
lished in  the  north  and  south  sections  of  the  city,  known 
as  the  Westminster  and  Calvary  churches;  and  the  parent 
organization  is  now  larger  and  more  active  than  ever  in 
its  history. 

He  was  largely  interested  in  forming  plans  upon  which 
his  intimate  friend  and  elder,  Samuel  Small,  founded  the 
York  Collegiate  Institute.  Of  this  institution  Dr.  Niles 
was,  from  the  beginning,  a  trustee. 

As  trustee  and  active  friend  of  Lincoln  University  he 
showed  his  constant  interest  in  the  colored  race. 

For  many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Min- 
isterial ReHef  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  gave  much 
care  and  thought  to  the  duties  thereby  devolving  upon  him. 
While  requiring  sacrifice  of  time,  and  large  drain  upon  his 
sympathies,  this  work  was  enjoyable  to  him;  because  per- 

[16] 


a^^tiott  of  J^enrp  €tiiuarti  0i\t^ 

formed  with  delightful  associates.  With  his  intimate  friend 
and  classmate,  the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  C.  Cattell,  there  existed  a 
life-long  congeniality,  peculiarly  sweet. 

In  1874  he  was  moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia, 
and  in  1877  associate  member  of  the  Pan  Presbyterian 
Council  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland.  His  last  outside  ecclesi- 
astical activity  was  as  member  of  the  Minneapolis  General 
Assembly  of  1899. 

Nor  were  his  energies  and  talents  devoted  by  any  means 
exclusively  to  his  own  church  and  to  Presbyterian  institu- 
tions. 

All  wise  reforms  in  morals  and  politics  had  in  him  a  fear- 
less and  judicious  advocate,  and  he  was  a  strong  support 
for  all  movements  of  evangelization  and  philanthropy. 

Before  the  union  of  the  Old  and  New  School,  in  1870, 
he  and  his  church  were  connected  with  the  latter  branch, 
and  his  ecclesiastical  tendencies  were  ever  in  favor  of  all 
liberty  of  thought  and  expression,  consistent  with  devotion 
to  fundamental  truth. 

These  are  but  the  bare  outlines  of  a  useful  and  happy  life. 

On  May  14,  1900,  he  entered  upon  a  well-earned  rest, 
after  seventy-six  years  of  true  living  and  fifty-two  years  of 
preaching,  by  acts  no  less  than  words,  the  Gospel  that  was 
to  him  a  vital  force  and  hourly  reality.  From  the  manse 
that  had  been  built  for  him,  and  where  he  had  spent  four- 
teen happy  years,  his  spirit  sought  his  eternal  home.  The 
sad  news  was  told  to  the  tearful  people  by  the  church  bell 
that  for  thirty-six  years  had  called  him  and  them  together 
for  instruction,  prayer,  and  praise. 

The  picture  was  completed  and  hung  in  the  gallery  of 
noble  lives.  The  song  had  been  sung  and  floated  heaven- 
ward to  mingle  with  the  harmonies  of  the  blessed. 

[17] 


sr^cmoir  of  i^mrp  ^titoarti  ^iW 

In  a  sketch  of  the  life  of  Dr.  Niles  the  first  place  should 
be  given  to  his  position  and  work  as  a  Christian  minister. 
It  was  to  this  holy  vocation  that  he  pledged  himself  in  youth, 
and  in  the  performance  of  its  obligations  and  the  enjoy- 
ment of  its  privileges  his  enthusiasm  never  cooled. 

Personal  ambition  or  desire  for  literary  or  professional 
reputation  never  seduced  his  steadfast  soul  from  the  yearly, 
daily,  and  hourly  sacrifice  of  all  his  thought,  time,  and  abil- 
ity in  the  effort  to  guard,  train,  instruct,  and  inspire  the 
feeblest  and  most  wayward  as  well  as  the  docile  of  his 
flock. 

The  results  of  energies  so  spent  do  not  appear  in  bound 
volumes,  and  are  unobserved  by  the  world  at  large;  but  the 
reward  in  his  own  consciousness  and  in  the  loving  apprecia- 
tion of  successive  generations  was  sweeter  to  him  than 
wealth  or  fame. 

Generations  have  been  nurtured,  instructed,  guarded,  and 
restrained  by  his  wise  and  tender  pastoral  care.  He  loved 
them  as  his  own.  When  they  pursued  the  paths  of  virtue, 
he  rejoiced  with  greater  pleasure  than  that  which  comes 
from  pursuit  of  worldly  gain;  and  when  they  strayed,  he 
grieved  as  a  father,  and  still  followed  them  with  prayer  and 
hope.  He  loved  his  people  individually,  discriminately. 
He  loved  to  study  human  nature  in  the  process  of  the  re- 
generating and  sanctifying  grace. 

The  Church  was  to  him  the  workshop  of  the  Almighty. 
His  anointed  eye  was  alert  to  note  the  features  of  the  Master 
being  sculptured  out  by  sorrow  and  joy,  repentance  and 
faith,  until  the  saint,  made  perfect,  became  fit  for  a  niche  in 
God's  eternal  gallery. 

No  formless  block  into  whose  unpromising  heart  the 
Holy  Ghost  had  cut  but  one  stroke  was  uninteresting  to 
him.     He  rejoiced  as  the  spiritual  likeness  showed  more  and 

[i8] 


a^cmoir  of  i^enrp  €t)tDarti  ^ilt^ 

more  clearly  in  some  Priscilla,  or  Mary,  or  Barnabas,  or 
Timothy. 

Although  not  unduly  emphasized,  he  regarded  preaching 
as  a  very  important  part  in  his  ministerial  calling.  In 
keeping  up  the  high  quality  of  his  sermons,  while  at  the 
same  time  earning  the  reputation  of  a  model  pastor,  his 
success  was  extraordinary. 

Doctor  Niles  was  an  impressive  public  speaker.  His  ser- 
mons, and  addresses  on  special  occasions,  were  well  pre- 
pared, thoughtful,  and  appropriate  in  matter,  and  delivered 
with  a  polish  of  expression  and  grace  of  elocution  that  was 
a  gratification  to  the  cultured  ear.  If  particularly  stirred 
by  a  subject,  especially  when  speaking  without  notes,  his 
oratory  was  very  effective. 

The  winter  of  1843  he  spejit  in  Washington  as  a  Con- 
gressional shorthand  reporter,  where  he  had  excellent  op- 
portunities of  observing  the  style  of  the  best  speakers  of 
the  time,  including  Clay,  Webster,  Calhoun,  and  Benton. 

The  art  of  elocution  was  ever  interesting  to  him.  To 
the  end  of  his  life  he  was  anxious  for  criticism  and  sug- 
gestion, and  was  constant  in  endeavor  to  improve  in  style 
and  manner.  His  success  in  this  had  much  to  do  with  his 
ability  to  preach  continuously  with  acceptance  to  the  same 
people. 

There  was  nothing  to  tire  or  annoy  in  his  delivery.  His 
melodious  voice  and  graceful  gesture  made  it  pleasant  to 
hear  the  truth  from  his  lips,  and  were  in  themselves  attrac- 
tive to  persons  of  taste. 

Mentally,  he  was  unusually  symmetrical.  Theological 
studies  and  ministerial  duties  were  not  allowed  to  prevent 
the  enjoyment  of  literary  pursuits,  and  his  closest  friends 
were  occasionally  charmed  by  poems  of  rare  imagination 
and  artistic  structure.     His  memory  was  filled  with  pas- 

[^9] 


sages  from  the  best  authors.  These  were  ever  ready  aptly 
to  adorn  or  illustrate  his  thought,  and  his  fine  elocution 
made  them  most  effective. 

He  reveled  in  the  beauty  and  glory  of  God's  works,  as 
well  as  His  Word.  One  was  an  illumination  and  revelation 
of  the  other  to  his  enraptured  vision. 

The  statuesque  hills  that  encircle  York,  the  summer  sun- 
set or  mountain  view,  when  interpreted  by  his  poetic  in- 
sight and  illuminated  by  his  chosen  quotations,  revealed  to 
his  friends  hitherto  unrealized  beauties. 

Not  a  tree  which  he  did  not  recognize  and  greet  with 
delight,  and  his  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  repertoire 
of  the  birds  made  his  enjoyment  of  their  concerts  most 
keen  and  unusual. 

Pre-eminently  a  man  of  affairs,  he  possessed  the  genius 
of  common-sense.  His  mechanical  skill  and  scientific  in- 
tuitions astonished  mechanics.  They  found  he  could  give 
them  points  in  their  trades.  They  opened  their  eyes  to  see 
a  minister  (popularly  supposed  to  be  in  a  cloud  hanging  be- 
tween Eden  and  Jerusalem)  instruct  them  in  a  better  way 
to  fix  a  gas-pipe,  or  furnace,  or  reveal  to  them  the  recondite 
mysteries  of  plumbing!  He  sometimes  said,  "  You  see 
how  a  good  carpenter  has  been  spoiled  to  make  a  poor 
minister." 

His  financial  forethought  and  exact  system  made  his 
judgment  and  counsel  much  valued  and  sought.  Many  a 
young  man  was  bound  to  him  through  life,  as  with  hooks  of 
steel,  by  gratitude  for  timely  counsel  and  aid  in  the  uncer- 
tain beginnings  of  business  or  professional  careers. 

Dr.  Niles  enjoyed  life.  This  planet,  made  bright  by  the 
footsteps  of  God  incarnate,  and  baptized  by  His  blood,  was 
no  "  howling  wilderness  "  or  "  vale  of  tears  "  to  him!  He 
loved  to  write,  he  loved  to  read,  he  loved  to  preach.     He 

[20] 


often  said,  "  I  would  rather  have  a  man  eat  my  dinner  for 
me  than  preach  for  me." 

The  brightest,  sweetest,  and  best  of  his  nature  were  re- 
served for  the  exhibited  in  his  name.  Only  those  who  were 
admitted  to  the  delights  of  the  family  circle  knew  fully  the 
wealth  of  his  mind,  the  romance  of  his  love,  and  the 
strength  of  his  character. 

His  wonderful  memory,  with  its  priceless  stores  of  litera- 
ture and  gems  of  poetry,  was  a  constant  source  of  elevation 
and  entertainment.  The  enthusiasm  of  his  nature  made 
each  day  a  new  festival  to  all  under  his  roof. 

In  care  of  the  children  of  others  he  never  neglected,  in 
the  least  particular,  the  interests  of  his  own.  In  their  man- 
hood, as  well  as  youth,  he  lavished  upon  his  sons  a  wealth  of 
affection  and  wise  parental  guidance. 

He  lost  nothing  in  dignity  and  gained  much  in  pleasure 
to  himself  and  his  children  by  making  them  his  closest  con- 
fidants and  boon  companions.  The  family  circle  was  an 
arena  where  all  questions  were  open  for  full  discussion,  and 
where  the  strongest  logic  was  cheerfully  awarded  the  palm ; 
but  here,  without  assertion  on  his  part,  he  was  always  the 
honored  and  beloved  king. 

His  official  blessing  in  the  marriage  ceremony  was  doubly 
sacred;  because  it  came  from  a  manly,  tender,  faithful  hus- 
band, whose  daily  domestic  life  was  a  poem  of  perfect 
rhythm  with  no  discordant  note. 

Practical,  yet  enthusiastic;  wise  and  vigorous,  strong,  but 
tender,  his  life  is  a  sermon  the  echoes  of  which  will  vibrate 
long  upon  the  air. 

"  Go  where  he  will,  the  wise  man  is  at  home; 
His  hearth  the  earth, — his  hall  the  azure  dome ; 
Where  his  clear  spirit  leads  him,  there's  his  road, 
By  God's  own  light  illumined  and  foreshowed." 

[21] 


"Sunset  and  evening  star. 

And  one  clear  call  for  me  / 
And  may  there  be  no  moaning  of  the  bar 
When  I  put  out  to  sea  ! 

Twilight  and  evening  bell, 

And  after  that  the  dark  ! 
And  may  there  be  no  sadness  of  farewell 
When  I  embark; 

For  though  from  out  our  bourne  of  time 
and  place 

The  flood  may  bear  me  far, 
I  hope  to  see  my  Pilot  face  to  face 

When  I  have  crossed  the  bar'' 


[22] 


CHAPTER  III 

Last  Services  and  Death 

IN  March,  1900,  clouds  began  to  obscure  the  soft,  radi- 
ant Indian  summer  sunlight  of  life. 
On  the  second  Sunday  of  that  month  Dr.  Niles  made 
his  last  appearance  in  the  pulpit  he  had  filled  for  thirty-five 
years. 

Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  T.  Smith,  of  Baltimore,  was  with  him 
and  gave  two  of  his  characteristic  sermon  poems,  which  Dr. 
Niles  enjoyed  as  appreciatively  and  enthusiastically  as  ever. 
The  social  visit  was  rich  with  the  reminiscences  of  Dr. 
Smith's  eventful  past,  and  of  the  leaders  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  North  and  South,  whom  he  had  had  such  rare  op- 
portunities of  knowing  personally.  In  the  exhilaration  of 
congenial  companionship  the  weariness  and  debiHty  from 
over-work  seemed  hardly  felt. 

Monday  evening,  March  12,  Dr.  Paton,  the  Paul  of  the 
Hebrides,  addressed  a  large  congregation  in  the  York 
church.  March  13,  all  attended  a  missionary  convention 
at  Harrisburg,  where  Dr.  Niles  presided. 

March  14,  he  led  his  last  Wednesday  evening  service  in 
the  lecture  room,  where  his  familiar,  scholarly,  practical 
heart-talks  had  instructed  and  delighted  two  generations  of 
hearers. 

Thursday,  March  13,  Dr.  Niles,  as  he  had  done  monthly 

[23] 


a^emoir  of  i^enrp  €tihjarli  i^ile^ 

for  a  score  of  years,  attended  a  session  of  the  Board  of 
Ministerial  Relief,  meeting  that  choice  circle  of  selected 
men  who  execute  the  will  of  the  Church  in  caring  for  its 
disabled  servants.  It  was  his  last  service  for  the  cause  he 
loved. 

From  Philadelphia  he  went  to  Atlantic  City  to  recuperate. 
But  the  tonic  of  the  ocean  seemed  to  have  no  power  to  brace 
his  system  or  bring  to  him  appetite  or  relief  from  nervous 
exhaustion. 

March  22  he  came  back  to  York,  feeling  that  he  had  lost 
ground. 

Still,  when  his  son  met  him  at  the  depot  with  the  two 
spirited  horses  he  so  much  enjoyed,  he  said  with  his  accus- 
tomed vim,  "  Ah,  Harry!  let  me  once  more  get  hold  of  the 
reins  and  drive  these  horses  and  I  shall  be  all  right." 

His  expectation  of  preaching  on  the  31st  was  not  realized, 
and  he  was  never  again  able  to  leave  the  house.  For  the 
next  four  weeks  there  were  the  fluctuations  of  improvement 
and  weakness. 

His  family  were  like  children,  buoyant  in  the  belief  that 
a  cure  would  be  attained.  All  active  disease  yielded  to  the 
skilful  treatment  and  tender  devotion  of  the  beloved  phy- 
sicians. There  remained  simply  inability  to  take  nourish- 
ment; and  the  eager  hope  of  love  that  every  new  food  and 
tonic  was  the  beginning  of  restoration  was  doomed  to  dis- 
appointment. 

Although  as  matter  of  fact  he  constantly  declined  in 
strength,  no  one  at  the  time  fully  realized  it. 

His  family,  of  which  he  was  ever  the  sun  and  joy,  around 
which  everything  revolved,  never  for  one  moment  acknowl- 
edged, even  to  each  other,  discouragement  or  doubt. 

They  set  themselves  religiously,  courageously,  hopefully, 
to  bring  in  from  the  outer  world  of  sense,  as  well  as  from 

[24] 


0^cmoir  of  J^ettrp  <!Etiixjat:ti  l^ilc^ 

the  unseen  spiritual  forces,  such  tides  of  life  and  power  as 
should  lift  the  beloved  one  up  out  of  the  quicksands  of  weak- 
ness where  he  was  stranded,  to  mount  the  rising  waves  of 
new  life. 

So  these  weeks  were  filled  with  the  diversions  of  com- 
fortable illness.  From  morning  till  night  sacred  and  classic 
writers  were  read  and  quoted,  and  the  political  and  ecclesi- 
astical news  discussed.  Especially  was  he  interested  in  the 
records  of  the  Missionary  Ecumenical  Council,  which  he  had 
himself  anticipated  attending. 

The  three  sunny  rooms  opening  out  of  his  study  used  by 
him  were  daily  filled  with  a  profusion  of  choice  flowers, 
and  he  playfully  suggested  that,  so  far  as  he  was  concerned, 
the  love  of  his  people  had  outstripped  the  almanac  and  made 
April  "  the  month  of  roses." 

The  weekly  visits  and  companionship  of  his  devoted  son 
Alfred  from  Baltimore  so  enlivened  the  Sundays  he  was  de- 
tained from  his  pulpit  that  the  true  significance  of  these 
unusually  frequent  reunions  was  not  realized. 

In  the  latter  part  of  April  his  minister  boy  from  New 
York  came,  and  father  and  son  spent  a  week  talking,  read- 
ing, comparing  notes  together  in  his  sick  room;  enjoying 
each  other  as  enthusiastically  as  ever. 

He  would  laugh  so  heartily  and  seem  so  full  of  merriment 
over  the  reminiscences  of  amusing  scenes  and  experiences 
in  travel  that  more  than  once  the  trained  nurse  was  obliged 
to  interrupt,  saying,  "  Indeed,  Dr.  Niles,  I  cannot  let  Mr. 
Edward  stay  any  longer  with  you.  You  are  laughing  too 
much.     You  must  lie  down  and  rest." 

On  the  first  day  of  May  the  son  returned  to  New  York, 
expecting  that  his  father  would  soon  be  able  to  ride.  out. 
"  Come  back  in  a  week  or  two,  my  boy,  and  we  will  be  able 
to  ride  over  the  hills  together,"  he  said  in  parting. 

[25] 


a^emoir  of  i^cnrp  €titoarti  l^ile^ef 

"  Ah,  happy  days  refuse  to  go ! 
Hang  in  the  heavens  forever  so ! 
Forever  let  thy  tender  mist 
Lie  like  dissolving  amethyst 
O'er  landscapes  of  the  Past,  and  shed 
Thy  mellow  glory  overhead ! 
Ah !  happy  days ;  refuse  to  go ! 
Hang  in  the  heavens  forever  so !  " 

In  those  days  and  weeks  of  enforced  leisure  and  unin- 
terrupted communion  how  near  seemed  the  warm  gulf 
stream  of  youth  and  love,  with  its  rosy  mists  and  golden 
clouds! 

The  rainbowed  arch  of  June  26,  1850,  stood  out  more 
radiant  than  ever  in  retrospect :  the  era  from  which  all  events 
were  reckoned. 

The  wedding-bells  that  had  then  first  rung  out  their  har- 
mony had  gathered  such  fulness  with  each  added  year's 
experiejices  that  their  thrilling  echoes  filled  the  whole  dome 
of  the  half-century. 

His  faith  loved  to  look  back  on  the  past  and  trace  how 
the  omnipotent  hand  of  his  loving  Pilot  had  steered  him 
safely  through  stormy  seas,  over  dangerous  rocks  and 
treacherous  currents,  through  all  latitudes,  and  under  varied 
skies,  to  this  anchorage  on  the  shores  of  the  Land  of  Beulah, 
glowing  with  celestial  light. 

From  the  almost  fifty  years  of  blissful  wedlock,  how  many 
were  the  garlands  of  sacred,  fragrant  memories  this  bride- 
groom, with  his  heart  of  gold,  gathered,  to  weave  into  a 
crown  for  his  half-century  bride. 

So  steadfastly  does  absorbing  affection  cling  to  what  con- 
stitutes all  that  is  precious  in  existence,  so  obstinately  does 
it  refuse  to  perceive  inevitable  danger  creeping  on,  that  it 
was  not  until  the  last  four  days  that  the  idea  of  imminent 
death  was  allowed  to  dart  its  black  wing  through  the  hori- 
zon. [  26  ] 


a^mioir  of  i^enrp  €litDatrti  0i\t^ 

But  May's  sunshine  and  flowers  did  not  stir  the  patient's 
pulses  with  new  energy,  nor  bring  back  elastic  strength  and 
vigor,  as  in  other  spring  tides.  The  coveted  rides  upon  his 
beloved  hills  were  put  off  from  day  to  day.  But  every  day 
he  insisted  upon  his  wife  and  son  going  out  into  the  resur- 
rection-life and  beauty  which  he  so  passionately  loved. 

His  oldest  son  and  companion  was  with  him  for  hours 
each  day.  The  moment  he  heard  the  music  of  his  footstep 
on  the  stair,  a  new  strength  of  life  and  love  inspired  him, 
and  his  face  would  glow  with  expectation.  That  manly  form 
never  crossed  the  threshold  without  receiving  the  radiant 
smile  and  welcome. 

But  that  fateful  Friday,  May  ii,  1900,  could  not  be  kept 
back  any  longer,  by  love  or  prayer. 

Ever  in  the  Gethsemane  agony  of  supplication,  "  Father, 
if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  Me,"  would  come  to 
his  loved  ones  the  vision  of  the  Head  of  the  Church,  stand- 
ing at  the  Father's  right  hand  and  saying,  "  I  will  that  they 
also  that  Thou  hast  given  me  be  zvith  Me  where  I  am,  that 
they  may  behold  My  glory." 

God's  arrow  of  suffering,  winged  by  love,  had  been  sent 
to  loosen  His  servant's  hold  on  this  life.  Four  days  before 
his  translation  he  asked  his  son,  after  he  had  been  out  with 
the  doctors,  "  Do  the  doctors  give  any  hope?  "  His  son 
replied,  "Very  little.  I  know  you  are  not  afraid!"  He 
said,  "Oh,  no!"  Harry  then  said,  "Have  you  anything 
you  would  like  to  say  to  me?  "  After  a  pause  he  said,  "  My 
papers  are  at  the  bank.  My  dear  ones  I  have  dedicated  to 
God.  He  will  care  for  them.  I  have  not  been  faithful,  but 
Christ  will  forgive.  I  have  been  a  poor  father,  but  you  are 
a  precious  son." 

May  13,  1900,  was  his  last  Lord's  Day  on  earth.  A  vesti- 
bule of  heaven  it  truly  seemed,  and  each  hour's  experiences 

[27] 


of  that  hallowed  time  has  been  lived  over  again  every  resur- 
rection day  since,  by  those  who  shared  them. 

As  his  wife  came  into  the  room  in  the  early  dawn  he  said, 
"  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  all  that  is  within  me  bless 
His  holy  name.  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  forget  not 
all  His  benefits."  When  asked  what  made  him  so  joyful, 
he  replied,  "  O!  this  glorious  Lord's  Day  and  we  are  all  here 
together!  " 

His  three  sons  were  close  around  him,  taking  turns  in 
holding  him  up  in  their  arms;  and  as  his  kingly  head  rested 
on  their  strong  shoulders  his  great  magnetic  eyes  were  bent 
upon  them  with  such  ineffable  brightness  and  tenderness 
that  the  nurse  was  moved  to  say,  "  O !  I  never  saw  such  light 
in  any  eyes  before!  How  I  would  love  to  have  seen  Dr. 
Niles  when  he  was  well !  " 

All  that  holy  day  his  mind  was  as  active  as  ever,  and  his 
reasoning  powers,  memory,  and  affections  were  in  full  vigor. 
God's  strong,  eternal  promises,  made  for  such  crucial  hours 
of  weakness,  were  poured  into  his  responsive  ear. 

John's  apocalyptic  vision  and  his  favorite  Psalms  and 
hymns  were  recited.  As  he  sat  up  in  his  sons'  embrace,  his 
face  shone  in  the  light  of  the  swiftly  coming  beatification, 
as  well-tried  promises  and  beloved  stanzas  of  noble  poetry 
comforted  his  soul. 

Even  then  his  trained  memory  would  instantly  detect  a 
mistake  or  wrongly  substituted  word,  and  his  hand  would 
be  raised,  in  his  own  graceful  imperiousness,  to  rectify  the 
error. 

The  choir,  whose  artistic  rendering  of  sacred  music  he  so 
enjoyed,  came  in  from  the  church,  and,  in  the  parlor  below, 
sang  with  tender  feeling  his  favorite  hymns.  The  strains  of 
"  Rock  of  Ages,"  "  Jesus,  Savior,  Pilot  Me,"  "  Jesus,  Lover 
of  My  Soul,"  seemed  to  bear  all  up  on  waves  of  melody  to 

[28] 


sr^emoir  of  i^enrp  €Dhjarti  ^iW 

the  pearly  gates;  and  to  the  ringing  of  the  golden  harps  of 
the  crowned  and  glorified  ones;  joyfully  expectant,  waiting 
to  welcome  our  beloved  to  the  celestial  choir  and  "  new 
song  of  the  Lamb." 

He  had  expected  on  this  resurrection  day  of  his  Lord  to 
meet  Him  in  Paradise.  In  the  afternoon  he  said  to  his  wife, 
"  Jeannie,  what  time  is  it?  "  When  told  that  it  was  four, 
he  said,  "  I  did  not  think  it  took  so  long  to  die.  I  have 
been  dying  all  day  and  I  am  not  yet  through.  I  thought  I 
should  be  on  the  other  side  with  my  Savior  before  this." 
Often  he  said,  "  If,  when  I  was  well,  I  had  not  put  my  case 
into  the  hands  of  the  Eternal  God,  what  would  I  do  now?  " 

His  faith  did  not  electrify,  but  it  sustained.  He  swung 
out  on  the  Almighty  Arm  into  the  realities  of  the  unknown 
existence  where  God  took  him.  The  child-like  faith  the 
Spirit  had  wrought  made  him  willing  to  go  alone  into  the 
unveiled  presence  of  Him  he  had  loved,  walked  with,  and 
tried  to  serve  for  sixty  years. 

If  it  had  pleased  his  Heavenly  Father  to  let  him  longer 
enjoy  his  home,  family,  church  and  friends,  he  would  have 
thanked  Him  for  it;  but,  since  it  was  His  will  to  take  him, 
he  thanked  Him,  just  the  same. 

Another  long  night  of  weakness  and  suffering  lay  be- 
tween him  and  immortal  strength  and  everlasting  youth  in 
the  presence  of  the  King  in  His  beauty. 

Monday  morning  he  missed  for  a  moment  his  wife  from 
his  side,  and  said  to  one  of  the  sons,  "  Where  is  your 
mother?  "  After  hearing  the  reply,  "There  she  is  " — as  she 
was  entering  the  door — he  said,  "Yes!  there  she  is — and 
when  she  comes  into  the  room  the  Holy  Ghost  always  comes 
with  her  to  cheer  and  strengthen  and  bless." 

The  last  hours  he  was  unconscious. 

On  the  14th  of  May,  1900,  at  four  o'clock,  the  bell  of  the 

[29] 


sa^emoit  of  f$tntp  €titoarti  i^ilt^ 

First  Presbyterian  Church  was  heard  to  toll  throughout  the 
city.  As  men,  women,  and  children  heard  the  strange,  sol 
emn  sound  of  those  seventy-six  slow  reverberations,  they  in- 
stinctively bowed  with  reverent  heads  as  they  realized  that 
the  faithful  pastor,  earnest  preacher,  sympathizing  friend, 
courteous  neighbor,  active  citizen,  and  genial  companion, 
whom  they  delighted  to  honor,  had  finished  his  earthly 
course. 

One  of  his  physicians  voiced  thus  the  sad  tidings  to  his 
mother:  "  Dr.  Niles  has  gone  to  wear  his  crown." 

"  He  hath  gone 
To  sit  down  with  the  prophets,  by  the  clear 
And  crystal  waters;  he  hath  gone  to  list 
Isaiah's  harp  and  David's,  and  to  walk 
With  Enoch  and  Elijah,  and  the  host 
Of  the  just  men  made  perfect.     He  shall  bow 
At  Gabriel's  hallelujah,  and  unfold 
The  scroll  of  the  apocalypse  with  John, 
And  talk  of  Christ  with  Mary,  and  go  back 
To  the  last  supper,  and  the  garden  prayer 
With  the  beloved  disciple. 
He  shall  hear  the  story  of  the  incarnation  told 
By  Simeon,  and  the  Triune  mystery 
Burning  upon  the  fervent  lips  of  Paul. 
He  shall  have  wings  of  glory,  and  shall  soar 
To  the  remoter  firmaments,  and  read 
The  order  and  the  harmony  of  stars; 
And,  in  the  might  of  knowledge,  he  shall  bow 
In  the  deep  pauses  of  archangel  harps, 
And,  humble  as  the  seraphim,  shall  cry — 
'  Who,  by  his  searching,  finds  Thee  out,  O  God !  * 
There  shall  he  meet  his  dear  ones  who  have  gone 
Before  him,  and  as  other  years  roll  on. 
And  his  loved  flock  are  gathered  up  to  him, 
His  hand  again  shall  lead  them  to  the  Lamb 
And  point  them  to  the  living  waters  there ! " 


[30] 


*'  At  Nain  was  voice  of  comfort  heard, 
For  Christ  had  touched  the  bier  ; 
The  bearers  wait  with  wondering  eye, 
The  swelling  bosom  dare  not  sigh  ; 
Btit  all  is  still,  twixt  hope  and  fear. 

E'en  such  an  awful  soothing  calm 

We  sometimes  see  alight 

On  Christian  mourners,  while  they  wait 

In  silence,  by  some  church-yard  gate. 

Their  summons  to  the  holy  rite. 

And  such  the  tones  of  love  which  break 
The  stillness  of  that  hour, 
Quelling  the  embittered  spirits  strife : 
'  The  Resurrection  and  the  Life 
Am  I!  Believe  and  die  no  more  I ' 

Then  cheerily  to  your  work  again 
With  hearts  new  braced  and  set 
To  run  untired  loves  blessed  race 
As  meet  for  those,  who,  face  to  face. 
O'er  the  grave  their  Lord  have  met.'' 


[32] 


CHAPTER   IV 

Funeral 

THE  Wednesday  evening  prayer-meeting — after  the 
death,  before  the  funeral — became  a  memorial  ser- 
vice for  him  who,  for  over  a  generation,  had  con- 
ducted those  peculiarly  stimulating  services. 

The  lecture-room  was  thronged  with  worshippers  when 
Dr.  Jeffers  opened  the  meeting.  Rev.  P.  Anstadt,  D.D., 
for  the  Lutheran  churches;  Rev.  G.  M.  Slaysman,  for  the 
Baptist  Church,  and  Rev.  F.  C.  Yost,  for  the  Reformed 
churches,  spoke  most  feejingly  of  their  love  and  reverence 
for  their  departed  fellow-worker.  The  Rev.  E.  S.  Hagen, 
secretary  of  the  Ministerial  Association,  told  of  Dr.  Niles's 
work  in  that  organization. 

The  Rev.  George  L.  Smith,  formerly  pastor  of  Calvary 
Presbyterian  Church,  came  from  Elmer,  N.  J.,  to  pay  his 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  his  friend. 

The  Rev.  C.  A.  Oliver,  pastor  of  the  Westminster  Pres- 
byterian Church,  emphasized  Dr.  Niles's  kindness,  faithful- 
ness, and  attachment  to  his  people;  while  the  Rev.  John  F. 
Mesick,  D.D.,  designated  him  as  "  the  prince  of  preachers." 

The  meeting,  from  beginning  to  end,  was  a  touching, 
impressive  evidence  of  the  esteem  and  love  of  other  churches 
and  denominations  of  York  for  the  pastor  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

[33] 


iSl^emoii:  of  ^mtp  €tiU)arti  Ij^ilc^ 

In  the  forenoon  of  May  17,  1900,  the  innermost  circle  of 
relatives  and  friends,  representatives  of  three  generatioiis, 
gathered  in  the  sunny  manse  parlor  around  the  beloved  form 
lying  in  the  nobleness  and  majesty  the  Death  Angel  had 
stamped  upon  his  face. 

It  was  the  last  of  those  family  worships  which  had  been  so 
sacred  and  delightful  and  characteristic  of  the  home,  ever 
held  around  the  form  of  their  beloved  high  priest. 

His  youngest  son  conducted  the  tender,  strengthening 
service  of  prayer  and  promise,  and  the  beloved  niece  led  in 
the  psalms  of  hope  and  victory.  The  angels'  welcoming 
chorus  flooded  down  in  echoing  whispers — 

"  Not  a  tear  must  o'er  him   fall ; 

He  giveth  His  beloved  sleep." 

The  casket  was  borne  by  the  church  officers  to  the  lecture- 
room  of  the  chapel,  where  an  opportunity  was  afforded  for 
all  his  friends  to  look  once  more  on  the  dear  face. 

The  body  was  then  taken  to  the  church,  where  the  public 
funeral  services  were  held. 

The  open  grave,  lined  with  flowers  and  green,  was  in  the 
church-yard  under  the  trees,  not  a  hundred  feet  from  his  pul- 
pit or  his  study.  It  is  a  grave  for  two;  one  chamber  is  still 
waiting. 

"Golden  gates  of  fifty  years  I 
Almost  we  did  your  latchet  press; 
Ah !  no  golden  June  for  us, 
But  Death  Angel  and  the  pall; 
Then,  one  stepping  on,  alone ! 
Soon,  two,  at  the  heart  of  all." 

Ministers  from  the  city  and  fellow  Presbyters  from 
abroad,  his  relatives,  members  of  his  flock  and  of  other  con- 

[34] 


gregations  encircled  the  grave  while  prayer  was  offered  and 
a  hymn  was  sung. 

Dr.  Niles's  son  in  clear,  ringing  tones  of  faith  committed 
the  precious  clay  to  Him  who  promised  "  He  that  believeth 
on  Me  shall  never  die,"  and  "  I  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last 
day." 

Over  all,  the  mantle  of  flowers  was  laid,  on  which  were 
piled  the  exquisite  artistic  designs  of  anchors,  crowns,  pil- 
lows, stars,  Bible,  wreaths,  and  other  floral  offerings  by 
which  yearning  hearts  had  striven  to  express  their  grief  and 
devotion  to  their  pastor  and  friend. 

The  newspapers  gave  a  full  account  of  the  services,  and 
the  funeral  addresses  were  fortunately  preserved. 

We  quote  from  one  of  the  papers  and  append  the  ad- 
dresses in  full. 

From  the  York  Daily,  May  i8,  1900. 

In  the  church  plot  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  yes- 
terday afternoon,  with  a  simple,  yet  most  solemn  and  im- 
pressive service,  the  remains  of  the  late  Rev,  Henry  Edward 
Niles,  D.D.,  were  laid  away  to  repose  under  the  green  sod. 
He  lies  in  the  shadow  of  the  church  in  which  for  so  many 
years  he  labored  with  such  marked  fruitful  results.  No 
more  fitting  spot  could  have  been  selected  to  honor  and 
keep  in  remembrance  "  A  leader  among  leaders."  While 
the  late  pastor  is  no  more  with  his  beloved  congregation 
and  with  the  community,  in  which  he  was  so  highly  es- 
teemed, his  memory  will  never  be  forgotten.  As  a  minister 
his  works  shine  forth,  and  as  a  citizen  his  efforts  were  always 
for  the  betterment  and  uplifting  of  the  whole  community. 
This  fact  was  evidenced  when  he  lay  in  state  in  the  chapel 
room  until  the  last  rites  were  performed. 

From  twelve  o'clock  noon  the  body  lay  in  the  chapel  in 

[35] 


a^cmoir  of  ^mtp  €tihjarti  l^ile^ 

charge  of  a  guard  of  honor  composed  of  Harry  S.  Ebert,  J. 
Wilbur  Yeats,  J.  St.  Clair  McCall,  J.  Edgar  Small,  George 
M.  Rynick,  H.  D.  Rupp,  Dr.  J.  McKinnon,  Howard  Mani- 
fold, Jacob  Hartzel,  Leslie  Maxell,  George  Steacy,  Law- 
rence Mitzel,  Roy  Canfield,  William  T.  Ong,  Norman  For- 
ney, and  Philip  Stair.  A  detail  of  police  was  present  and 
at  the  entrances  to  the  building  directed  the  crowd. 

From  the  time  the  chapel  was  opened  until  2.45  o'clock 
a  continuous  stream  of  people  passed  around  the  bier  and 
took  a  parting  look  at  the  form  of  the  one  who  was  so  dear 
to  them.  Tears  filled  the  eyes  of  many.  At  the  head  of 
the  casket  was  a  large  pillow  of  white  carnations  from  the 
Sunday-school,  suitably  inscribed.  A  number  of  other  floral 
tributes  were  also  laid  upon  the  casket  and  around  it.  It 
was  at  the  altar  of  the  church  the  wealth  of  floral  tributes  was 
displayed.  Never  before  in  this  city  was  there  such  a  pro- 
fusion of  loving  testimonials  placed  around  the  bier  of  one 
who  had  departed  this  life. 

The  Ministerial  Association  of  the  city  paid  its  last  re- 
spects to  the  deceased  and  afterward  took  seats  reserved  for 
them  in  the  main  body  of  the  church. 

The  pulpit  arch  was  beautifully  and  heavily  draped  in 
mourning,  as  were  the  two  doors  on  either  side  of  the 
chancel  and  also  the  front  of  the  choir  and  organ  loft. 

The  edifice  was  filled  to  the  doors.  The  assemblage  was 
so  large  that  chairs  had  to  be  used  to  seat  the  people  in  the 
aisles,  while  at  the  rear  of  the  church  many  stood. 

At  2.45  promptly,  the  remains  were  removed  from  the 
chapel  to  the  church,  being  brought  in  through  the  door 
west  of  the  chancel.  The  honorary  pallbearers  were  Henry 
Small,  Jacob  Weltzhoffer,  H.  W.  Hallock,  Peter  McLean, 
Niles  H.  Shearer,  John  Hamilton  Small  and  James  McLean. 

The  active  pallbearers  were  also  taken  from  the  elders, 

[36] 


a^mioir  of  ijcnrp  <!EtitDarti  0iW 

deacons,  and  trustees  of  the  church,  John  M.  Brown,  W.  H. 
McCIellan,  John  H.  Small,  Samuel  M.  Manifold,  George  S. 
Billmeyer,  and  Henry  R.  Kraber, 

The  immediate  family  and  relatives  entered  at  the  front 
of  the  church. 

The  organ  in  subdued  tones  wafted  out  the  solemn  strains 
of  the  Beethoven  funeral  march,  the  entire  audience  stand- 
ing. Upon  the  platform  were  seated  Rev.  David  S.  Curry, 
Rev.  Charles  A.  Oliver,  Rev.  J.  W.  Oliver,  Rev.  E.  W.  Co- 
berth,  Rev.  Dr.  Mesick,  Rev.  George  C.  Heckman,  D.D., 
LL.D.,  of  Reading,  Rev.  W.  L.  Ledwith,  D.D.,  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  the  Rev.  E.  T.  Jeffers,  D.D. 

The  service  was  opened  with  the  singing  of  that  im- 
pressive hymn,  "  Jesus,  Lover  of  My  Soul,"  by  the  choir. 
A  scriptural  reading  followed  by  Rev.  David  S.  Curry,  who 
also  ofifered  prayer.  The  choir  then  sang  the  hymn,  "  For 
All  Thy  Saints  Who  from  Their  Labors  Rest." 

Address  hy  Dr.  Heckman. 

Rev.  George  C.  Heckman,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  of  Reading,  Pa., 
made  the  following  address: 

The  death  of  Dr.  Niles  was  a  great  shock  to  me,  as  it 
was  to  you  all,  although  some  of  you  were  looking  to  such  a 
painful  event;  painful  to  us,  not  to  him. 

I  deem  it  a  privilege  to  be  here  to-day,  and  thank  God  for 
health  and  strength  to  be  here,  to  mingle  my  tears  with 
yours,  and  to  offer  consolation  with  this  congregation  to 
the  bereaved  family  of  our  dear  friend;  praying  that  the  Holy 
Ghost  will  sustain  them  in  this  their  hour  of  trial.  A  va- 
cancy has  been  made  among  them,  such  as  has  never  come 
to  them  before;  and  when  they  are  left  to  their  reflection, 
after  the  first  stunning  effects  have  passed  away,  they  will 

[37] 


^tmtxit  of  i^encp  €tib3ai:li  ^ilt^ 

feel  more  deeply  than  to-day  that  the  vacant  place  cannot 
be  filled. 

I  am  asked  to  say  something  regarding  the  student-life 
of  Dr.  Niles,  of  his  worth  and  life  in  the  ministry. 

My  first  acquaintance  with  Henry  Edward  Niles  was 
made  when  fifty-four  young  men  became  classmates  in  the 
beginning  of  their  post-graduate  studies  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Princeton,  N.  J.  They  came  from  all  parts  of 
our  country,  and  many  from  other  lands.  This  was  in  the 
autumn  of  1845.  The  total  membership  of  the  class  for  the 
three  years  at  the  seminary  numbered  sixt3^-seven.  Of  this 
number  forty-seven  have  departed  this  life;  twelve  at  least 
survive  with  us  here;  and  of  eight  others,  I  know  not 
whether  they  are  living  or  dead;  probably  most,  if  not  all  of 
them,  are  deceased.  Of  the  twelve  survivors,  seven  are  still 
in  the  active  service  of  the  Church.  Of  these  twelve,  the 
Rev.  Thomas  M.  Crawford,  D.D.,  has  passed  his  eightieth 
year.  Two  others,  the  Rev.  Andrew  Shiland,  D.D.,  of  New 
York,  and  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Osmond,  of  Tacoma,  Wash., 
if  spared  a  few  months,  will  have  passed  their  four-score 
years.  [Since  this  record  the  Rev.  Dr.  Murphy  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Shiland  have  departed.] 

This  class  of  sixty-seven  has  had  a  most  creditable  his- 
tory of  honor  and  usefulness  to  the  Church  and  country. 
But  this  is  not  the  time,  nor  is  it  the  place,  to  recite  that 
history.  Many  of  its  members  have  occupied  prominent 
pulpits  in  our  own  Church  and  in  other  denominations. 
One  still  surviving  and  active  is  Bishop  Littlejohn,  of  the 
Diocese  of  Long  Island.  [Lately  departed  this  life.]  Two 
others  are  the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  R.  Craven,  secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Publication,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  M.  Paxton,  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  of  Princeton.  Several  others  have 
occupied  high  places  in  educational  institutions  of  impor- 

[38] 


tance.  Four  have  filled  the  moderator's  chair  in  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  North  and  South.  Let  this  suffice  to  illus- 
trate the  setting  Dr.  Niles  has  as  to  his  theological  class. 

In  this  class  Dr.  Niles  was  peer  among  peers.  From  the 
start  he  took  a  high  place,  which  he  never  lost  in  his  three 
years  of  seminary  days,  and  maintained  through  his  long 
life,  reflecting  distinguished  honor  on  his  classmates  and 
his  beloved  Alma  Mater.  I  have  the  combined  daguerreo- 
type plates  of  thirty-five  portraits  of  our  class,  taken  at 
graduation,  two  faces  on  each  plate.  On  one  of  these  are 
the  portraits  of  Mr.  Osmond  and  Dr.  Niles.  By  an  inter- 
esting and  affecting  coincidence,  a  letter  from  Mr.  Osmond 
and  the  news  of  Dr.  Niles's  death  came  to  me  by  the  same 
mail. 

To  students,  life  in  the  Theological  Seminary  is  usually  a 
most  happy  period,  to  which  they  look  back  with  undimin- 
ished pleasure.  Here  you  find  a  body  of  select  young  men, 
of  that  happy  combination  of  character  which  is  the  product 
of  social  culture,  collegiate  training,  well-defined  religious 
conviction,  and  self-sacrificing  piety.  There  is  nowhere  to 
be  found  a  finer  aggregation  of  young  society,  from  what- 
ever point  of  view  you  look.  There's  a  healthful,  inspiring 
stimulus  in  the  atmosphere,  which  makes  irresistibly  for  the 
best  social,  intellectual,  and  spiritual  development. 

Into  such  society  Henry  Edward  Niles  was  introduced 
by  his  matriculation  in  1845.  With  it  he  was  in  most 
happy  adaptation,  perfectly  at  home,  in  delightful  harmony 
at  all  points,  and  by  his  previous  mental  and  religious  train- 
ing, ready  to  enjoy  it,  to  penetrate  all  its  advantages,  and 
to  develop  under  it  into  a  larger  life. 

It  was  the  privilege  of  the  class  to  enjoy  the  last  un- 
broken labor  of  the  original  faculty,  the  vejierable  Dr.  Miller 
retiring  with  the  graduation  of  the  class.     The  faculty  as 

[39] 


sr^cmoir  of  i$mtp  €ti\xyath  |^ile$f 

then  constituted  was  one  of  the  ablest  the  institution  has 
had,  and  unsurpassed  in  the  theological  schools  of  that  day. 
In  this  class  Dr.  Niles  at  once  took  a  high  place,  which  he 
easily  held  and  never  lost,  in  the  seminary  or  ever  since. 
He  was  one  of  the  best  students  as  to  scholarly  attainments, 
always  faithful  in  preparation  and  attendance  upon  class 
duties,  at  devotional  exercises,  at  the  seminary  and  class 
prayer-meetings,  at  the  afternoon  Sabbath  conference,  and 
at  the  church  service.  No  student  stood  higher  in  the  esti- 
mation of  his  associates  and  teachers.  With  his  intimates 
he  was  more  than  esteemed;  he  was  loved,  and  his  friend- 
ship was  cherished  as  a  choice  possession.  He  was  not  only 
amiable,  but  strong  in  his  physical,  mental,  and  moral  make- 
up. In  class-meetings  he  was  always  heard  with  attention 
and  respect  for  his  intellectual  force  and  unassuming  piety. 
His  prayers  were  most  edifying;  and  when  leading  a  prayer- 
meeting,  I  usually  called  upon  him  with  others  to  of¥er 
prayer.  He  was  always  strong  and  firm  in  his  opinion, 
genial  and  respectful,  modest  and  receptive. 

He  was  a  thoroughly  symmetrical,  all-round  man  in  his 
professional  studies  and  acquisition,  and  in  his  wide  read- 
ing of  other  literature.  It  goes  without  saying  that  his 
was  a  liberal  education,  for  such  an  education  is  the  natural, 
logical  outcome  of  the  constant  study  of  the  inspired  Word 
of  God  and  the  broad  fields  of  knowledge  covered  by  our 
theological  schools. 

One  of  the  best  commentaries  of  his  life  as  man  and 
scholar,  as  citizen  and  minister,  is  to  be  found  in  his  social, 
literary  and  civic  standing  in  this  large  and  intellectual  com- 
munity, and  in  the  remarkable  growth  and  prosperity  of 
this  important  pastoral  charge  and  the  strong  churches 
formed  from  it.  But  this,  and  his  sweet  family  life,  his  valu- 
able educational  work,  his  intelligent,  alert,  patriotic  citi- 

[40] 


zenship,  belong  to  others  who  are  to  follow,  and  I  must 
resist  the  temptation  of  affection  and  admiration  to  enlarge 
upon  them. 

Dr.  Niles  has  been  for  thirty-five  years  under  my  observa- 
tion. He  was  one  of  those  happily  constituted  men  who 
inspire  confidence  with  first  acquaintance.  He  so  im- 
pressed me  the  first  time  I  met  him,  and  my  affection  for 
him  grew  steadily  with  my  ever-growing  admiration  for  the 
fidelity  and  usefulness  of  his  life.  And  this  life.-long  ap- 
preciation has  been  confirmed  and  illuminated  by  his  last 
words  of  humility  and  faith:  "  I  am  not  afraid;  I  have  not 
been  faithful,  but  Christ  will  forgive." 

Only  two  weeks  ago  I  reminded  my  family  that  in  the 
event  of  my  death  they  must  not  forget  my  frequent  request 
that  my  classmate,  Dr.  Niles,  should  be  requested  to  officiate 
at  my  funeral.  And  now  instead,  I  stand  by  his  bier  with 
heart  full  of  pain  in  pronouncing  this  faint  eulogy  of  my 
friend.  All  the  good  and  noble  in  his  character,  relations 
and  work  were  prophetic  in  him  in  his  student  days.  As 
he  was  with  you  for  the  last  thirty-five  years  in  this  larger 
sphere  and  conspicuity,  such  also  was  he  in  the  narrower 
bounds  and  shorter  period  of  his  seminary  days.  As  he  was 
one  of  the  manliest  of  young  men,  so  he  has  lived  out  one 
of  the  noblest  of  lives.  The  beautiful  blossoming  of  his 
youth  has  yielded  the  rich  fruitage  of  a  long  life.  To  the 
long  lineage  of  American  citizenship  and  Church  hfe,  he  has 
been  permitted  to  add  additional  honor.  "  He  fought  the 
good  fight;  he  finished  the  course;  he  kept  the  faith; "  and 
now  he  has  been  called  up  to  receive  the  crown  of  right- 
eousness. May  we  all  possess  that  faith  which  makes  for 
obedience,  and  that  obedience  which  makes  for  righteous- 
ness. And  the  glory  shall  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the 
Son,  and  to  the  Holy  Spirit,  our  Triune  Jehovah,  world 
without  end."  [41] 


St^emoic  of  i^mrp  OBtitDarti  l^ilc^ 

Address  by  Dr.  Ledwith. 

A  Prince  in  Israel  has  fallen.  A  dear,  devoted  husband 
has  fallen  asleep,  but  you  know,  dearly  beloved  friend,  in 
the  loneliness  of  your  widowhood  that  the  God  of  all  com- 
fort will  not  leave  you  destitute.  A  father  has  been  taken 
from  a  circle  of  devoted  children,  but  this  blessed  consola- 
tion to-day  is  their  portion: — "  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor 
forsake  thee."  A  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has 
gone  to  his  reward,  but  his  works  do  follow  him.  In  the 
holy  silence  of  thoughtful,  sympathetic,  and  loving  hearts 
here  this  afternoon,  the  prayer  of  our  lips  should  be:  "I 
was  dumb  and  opened  not  my  mouth,  because  Thou  didst 
it."  And  as  we  lift  up  our  eyes  we  recognize  the  fact  that 
God  is  with  us;  that  He  knows  the  beginning  and  the.  end, 
and  we  most  devoutly  and  unreservedly  say,  "  The  Lord  has 
given  and  the  Lord  has  taken  away.  Blessed  be  the  name 
of  the  Lord." 

How  natural  for  family  and  friends  to  cling  to  the  memo- 
ries of  those  that  are  no  more.  How  natural  the  desire  to 
be  conscious  once  again  of  the  touch  of  the  vanished  hand; 
to  hear  once  more,  in  the  home  or  in  the  sacred  desk,  in 
prayer,  the  sound  of  his  voice,  now  stilled  forever. 

You  have  had  the  curtain  lifted  that  has  revealed  to  you 
some  of  the  past  days  and  joys.  I  stand  to-day  behind  that 
curtain  with  the  sweet  and  blessed  memories  of  twenty-two 
years.  As  vividly  as  though  it  were  yesterday  do  I  remem- 
ber the  first  time  I  met  Dr.  Niles.  It  was  in  the  city  of 
Lancaster,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Westminster. 
I  was  a  young  man  and  was  making  a  speech,  and  as  I 
looked  down  into  the  front  pew  I  caught  the  eye  of  a 
stranger,  and  I  instinctively  recognized  in  that  gaze  that  I 
had  a  kind,  sympathetic,  and  helpful  listener;  and  at  the 

[42] 


a^emoir  of  i^enrp  €titoarti  l^ile^ 

close  of  the  meeting  he  introduced  himself  to  me,  and  a 
friendship  was  established  that  knew  no  change.  I  felt  that 
we  could  be  congenial  the  one  with  the  other;  helpful  the 
one  to  the  other;  and,  although  a  man  old  enough  to  be  my 
father,  I  feel,  friends,  that  I  stand  here  to-day  to  speak  of 
an  elder  brother. 

Is  it  necessary  for  me  to  dwell  on  the  many  quaUties  that 
characterized  him?  Is  it  necessary  for  me  to  lift  the  veil  and 
enable  you  to  see  something  that  you  know  as  well  as  I,  and 
some  better?  How  we  call  to  mind  that  bright,  cheerful 
face,  that  kind,  sympathetic  voice!  How  great  was  his  love 
for  the  beautiful,  framing  expressions  from  time  to  time  that 
kindled  like  admiration  in  the  heart  of  his  listener.  How 
he  was  loyal  at  all  times  and  under  all  circumstances  to  the 
truth,  as  he  recognized  it,  believed  it,  and  lived  it.  How  at 
all  times  we  find  him  devoted  to  Christianity  as  revealed  in 
the  perfection  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  that  he  sought  to  mani- 
fest in  his  daily  walk  and  conversation. 

I  shall  not  speak  of  the  relations  he  sustained  to  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry  and  in  the  Presbytery.  He  was 
well  versed  in  ecclesiastical  law,  and  in  all  his  discussions 
with  his  brethren  fully  persuaded  them  that  he  ever  had 
the  highest  interests  of  the  Church  he  loved  at  heart,  the 
honor  of  the  truth,  and  the  glory  of  his  Divine  Master. 

Is  it  for  me  to  speak  then  about  his  relation  as  a  pastor? 
He  came  unto  you  in  the  full  prime  of  manhood  with  rich 
experience  in  real  life  among  men.  Just  as  God  had  en- 
dowed him  with  knowledge  and  power  and  courage  did  he 
minister  unto  you  of  the  fold.  Ah!  had  these  walls  lips, 
what  precious  words  we  might  hear!  Were  these  walls,  as 
it  were,  transparencies  through  which  might  come  the 
bright  shining  of  the  truth,  what  conflicts  and  triumphs  we 
might  behold.     As  is  true  of  most  servants  of  the  Lord, 

[43] 


0^mtoir  of  J^ernrp  ^btDarti  ^tW 

his  own  people  were  near  his  heart,  and  his  own  people  had 
the  first  claim  upon  his  sympathy  and  love,  and  for  them 
he  lived  and  labored. 

For  thirty-five  years  he  went  in  and  out  among  you, 
breaking  unto  you  the  bread  of  life.  Do  you  realize  all 
that  is  involved  in  the  record  of  those  thirty-five  years? 
Thirty-five  years  of  faithful  preaching  of  the  Gospel  of  our 
blessed  Christ.  Thirty-five  years  of  anxious,  earnest,  lov- 
ing service  in  season  and  out  of  season.  Thirty-five  years 
of  rejoicing  with  you  in  your  joys  and  prosperity,  and  in 
your  growth  in  grace  and  the  divine  life.  Thirty-five  years 
in  lifting  up  his  hands  in  benediction  as  you  bowed  your 
heads  in  these  pews  for  prayer.  Thirty-five  years  in  min- 
istering beside  sick  beds.  Thirty-five  years  in  following 
one  generation  after  another  to  their  last  resting  places. 
Oh,  the  memories  that  rise  up  about  you  of  the  generations 
that  have  come  and  gone.  Sweet  little  babes  who  came, 
smiled,  and  departed.  Young  men  and  maidens  who  con- 
fessed their  Master  in  this  church,  who  lived  out  their 
allotted  time  here  or  elsewhere  and  then  went  to  their 
graves  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality. 

The  life  of  your  beloved  pastor  was  fully  rounded  and 
complete.  He  died  in  the  harness,  permitted  to  proclaim 
the  Gospel  almost  to  the  end,  and  as  to  the  last  service 
ministering  unto  you  in  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per. Let  it  be  the  desire  and  hope  of  all,  in  the  blessed 
future,  to  sit  together  at  the  Marriage  Supper  of  the  Lamb. 

As  we  tarry  for  a  moment  this  afternoon  beside  his  casket 
and  look  upon  the  form  of  our  dear  friend  we  say:  "  Asleep 
in  Jesus  ";  but  is  he  not  alive  for  ever  more?  We  behold 
the  stillness  and  the  pallor  of  death,  but  doth  not  that  face, 
in  the  heavenly  places,  behold  and  reflect  the  divine  glory? 
Should  there  be  sorrow  in  your  hearts?     Yes,  but  it  will 

[44] 


0^emoir  of  ^^enrp  €titoarti  ^iW 

be  turned  into  joy.  Your  sorrow  may  endure  for  the  night, 
but  joy  Cometh  in  the  morning.  Should  there  be  tears? 
Yes,  but  they  shall  all  be  wiped  away,  and  to  you  will  be 
given  the  garments  of  praise  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness. 
We  look  for  the  last  time  upon  this  familiar  face  now  still 
in  death. 

"  Two  hands  upon  the  breast, 
And  labor's  done : 
Two  pale  feet  crossed  in  rest. 
The  race  is  run." 

He  goeth  from  us,  but  shall  we  not  rejoice  that  there  hath 
been  granted  unto  him  an  abundant  entrance  into  ever- 
lasting habitations?  But,  though  dead,  beloved,  he  yet 
speaketh,  and  his  works  do  follow  him.  Let  not  his  in- 
struction, as  you  have  received  it  these  many  years  from 
this  sacred  desk,  be  forgotten,  but  cherish  it  in  your  hearts, 
and  let  it  bring  forth  a  rich  fruitage  in  your  lives.  Seek  to 
imitate  his  example,  in  so  far  as  his  life  was  kind  and  pure 
and  Christ-like,  and  so  glorify  your  Divine  Lord,  whom  he, 
with  loving  devotion,  tried  to  faithfully  serve. 

Address  by  Dr.  Jeffers. 

In  these  days  of  restless  ministers  and  congregations 
difficult  to  satisfy,  the  mere  fact  that  Dr.  Niles  has  held  the 
place  of  pastor  in  an  intelligent  and  influential  church  for 
thirty-five  years  is  enough  to  make  him  remarkable.  If  we 
knew  nothing  else  of  him  save  that  he  had  remained  here 
for  a  thirty-five-year  pastorate,  we  could  infer  that  he  must 
have  had  many  of  the  qualities  which  the  friends  of  his  earlier 
days  discovered  in  him  and  have  recalled  to-day.  But  this 
is  not  his  distinction.  This  is  a  result,  not  a  cause.  He 
did  more  than  stay  and  hold  the  office.     He  not  only  re- 

[45] 


i3t^emoir  of  i$tntp  aEtitDarH  i^ile^ 

mained,  but  he  grew.  He  not  only  kept  the  church,  but 
made  it  grow.  The  members  of  Session  and  Board  of 
Trustees,  and  those  who  in  active  church  work  came  in 
close  contact  with  him,  know  how  far  he  was  from  merely 
floating  with  the  current.  He  was  busy.  He  planned  the 
.  work  of  others,  and  it  was  a  rare  thing  that  he  failed  to  bring 
to  pass  what  he  wanted  to  be  done. 

I  never  knew  Dr.  Niles  until  he  had  reached  the  age 
when  most  men  are  satisfied,  if  not  compelled,  to  retire  from 
active  service.  But  when  he  had  reached  three-score  and 
ten  he  could  say  as  Dr.  Cuyler  did,  "  I  am  seventy  years 
young." 

This  was  evident  in  his  manner.  It  seems  but  yester- 
day that  he  rode  along  our  streets  as  erect  as  ever.  It  is 
but  a  few  days  since  we  saw  him  moving  with  the  quick, 
springing  step  that  indicated  anything  but  age.  He  was 
young  until  the  last,  and  worked  till  the  last,  and  died  as 
he  wished  to  die,  when  his  work  was  done.  He  always 
seemed  to  me  to  have  all  that  one  could  desire.  His  church 
thought  of  him  so  kindly  that  nothing  they  could  con- 
tribute to  his  happiness  was  withheld.  His  life  to  its  very 
close  was  ideal. 

I  have  been  asked  to  say  a  few  words  to-day  because  he 
and  I  were  both  connected  with  the  Collegiate  Institute. 
Twenty-seven  years  ago,  one  of  the  elders  in  his  church, 
a  public-spirited  man,  decided  to  form  a  school  where  the 
young  people  of  the  city  and  vicinity  could  receive  a  higher 
education  than  the  public  schools  gave  at  that  time.  He 
took  into  his  confidence  his  pastor,  whom  he  made  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  The  pastor's  name  appears 
in  all  the  early  programmes  and  we  could  always  count  on 
his  presence  at  all  our  public  entertainments.  Dr.  Niles 
never  lost  interest  in  the  Institute.     Not  that  he  neglected 

[46] 


isr^otioir  of  ipenrp  €tituarti  l^ile^ 

his  congregation  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  school  or 
of  anything  else  with  which  he  was  connected  outside  of 
his  church.  He  had  time  and  thought  and  care  for  many 
things. 

When  he  returned  from  the  commencements  of  Lincoln 
University  he  was  always  anxious  to  report  to  me,  know- 
ing that  I  was  heartily  interested  in  the  work  of  that  in- 
stitution. 

I  wish  we  could  have  a  worthy  report  of  his  work  as  a 
Presbyter,  especially  during  the  last  few  years.  His  chair- 
manship of  the  Missionary  Committee  was  only  one  of  the 
many  responsible  places  he  held.  Only  last  year  he  was 
sent  to  the  General  Assembly  as  our  representative  in  that 
body.  Many  of  the  members  of  Presbytery  are  here  to- 
day and  are  ready  to  speak  most  affectionately  of  him. 

Two  representatives  of  the  "  Harrisburg  Cleric  "  are  also 
here  to  remind  us  that  for  some  years  he  was  a  faithful 
member  of  that  band  of  brothers. 

Many  places  are  left  vacant  by  his  death.  Some  it  will 
be  hard  to  fill.     That  in  your  hearts  will  never  be  filled. 

As  a  preacher  he  maintained  a  high  standard  of  excel- 
lence to  the  last.  I  often  heard  him,  but  never  heard  from 
him  a  carelessly  prepared  sermon.  From  the  invocation  to 
the  benediction  everything  was  neat,  refined,  finished. 
Thoroughness  of  preparation,  and  excellent  taste  were  evi- 
dent no  less  in  the  reading  of  the  hymn  and  the  most  im- 
passioned exhortation  than  in  the  treatment  of  the  main 
points  of  the  sermon.     His  work  was  made  to  last. 

So  when  we  lay  him  away  to  rest — all  that  is  mortal  of 
this  beloved  pastor — his  life  is  not  ended,  his  influence  has 
not  ceased.  This  congregation  is  what  he  made  it.  Be- 
ing dead  "  he  yet  speaketh  "  most  effectively  to  this  whole 
community  through  the  Church.     The  Lord  has  granted 

[47] 


a^emoir  of  i^cnrp  Ctitoarti  ^iW 

him  a  splendid,  useful  life;  and  his  day  has  closed  with  a 
brilliant  sunset." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  addresses  the  choir  sang  the 
hymn,  "  Great  Lord  of  all  Thy  Churches."  Prayer  was 
offered  by  Rev.  Charles  A.  Oliver.  The  remains  were  then 
removed  by  the  northwest  door  to  the  church  plot,  where 
the  interment  took  place.  The  grave  was  lined  with 
greens. 

After  the  mourners  had  gathered,  the  committal  service, 
short  but  impressive  and  beautiful,  was  pronounced  by  Rev. 
Edward  Niles.  The  choir  sang  in  a  feeling  manner  "  Rock 
of  Ages  Cleft  for  Me,"  Dr.  JefTers  offered  prayer,  and  the 
benediction  was  pronounced  by  Rev.  Dr.  Mesick. 

The  attendance  of  ministers  from  the  Westminster  Pres- 
bytery was  large. 

Among  the  others  present  were  Mr.  Henry  L.  Davis,  of 
Philadelphia,  representing  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Min- 
isterial Relief,  of  which  the  deceased  was  one  of  the  original 
and  active  members;  Rev.  George  S.  Chambers,  D.D.,  of 
the  Pine  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  Harrisburg;  Rev. 
George  L.  Smith,  a  former  pastor  of  Calvary  Church,  this 
city,  now  of  Elmer,  N.  J. ;  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  T.  Smith,  Balti- 
more; Rev.  George  W.  Ely,  Columbia;  Rev.  A.  N.  Hagerty, 
Carlisle,  and  Rev.  John  A.  Crawford,  of  the  Memorial 
Church,  Lancaster. 


[48] 


'  When  some  beloved  voice  that  was  to  you 
Both  sound  and  sweetness,  faileth  suddenly; 
And  silence,  against  which  you  dare  not  cry, 
Aches  'round  you,  like  a  strong  disease;  and  now. 
What  hope?    What  help?     What  music  can  undo 
That  silence  to  your  sense?     No  voice  but  God's! 
Speak  Thou,  availing  Christ,  and  fill  this  pause!" 

"  God  keeps  a  niche 
In  heaven  to  hold  our  idols;  and  albeit 
He  brake  them  to  our  faces,  and  denied 
That  our  close  kisses  should  impair  their  white, 
I  know  we  shall  behold  them  raised,  complete. 
The  dust  swept  from  their  beauty, — glorified ! 
New  Memnons,  singing  in  the  great  God-light." 


[49] 


**  Do  we  count  the  star  lost,  that  is  hidden 

In  the  great  light  of  morn  f 
Or  fashion  a  shroud  for  the  young  child, 

On  the  day  it  is  born  ? 
Yet  behold^  that  were  wise,  to  our  folly. 

Who  mourn,  sore  distressed, 
When  a  soul  that  is  summoned  believing. 

Enters  into  its  rest, 
Exchanging  earthly  weakness,  with  its  moan. 
For  song  and  service  there  before  the  throned 


[50] 


CHAPTER    V 

Action  of  Various  Boards  and  Societies 

RESOLUTIONS  ON  THE  DEATH  OF  REV.  H.  E. 
NILES,  D.D. 

AT  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Elders  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  York,  Pa.,  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted: 
Whereas,  It  has  seemed  best  to  the  All-wise  Ruler  of  the 
Universe  to  transfer  from  earth  to  Heaven  our  beloved 
pastor,  Rev.  H.  E.  Niles,  D.D.,  and  although  we  are  sad- 
dened and  grieved  beyond  expression,  yet  we  bow  in  humble 
submission  to  the  Divine  Will,  knowing,  whether  joyous  or 
grievous,  our  Lord  doeth  all  things  well. 

Resolved,  That  in  this  dispensation  of  Providence  our 
church  has  lost  a  faithful  minister  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 
For  more  than  a  generation  he  has  stood  in  his  place, 
preaching,  teaching,  and  exhorting  the  members  of  his 
church  and  congregation  to  prepare  for  their  everlasting 
welfare. 

Resolved,  That  the  session  of  this  church,  of  which  he 
was  the  head,  will  greatly  miss  him.  His  wise  counsel  and 
foresight  was  ever  at  his  command  to  guide  and  direct  us 
aright  in  all  our  deliberations. 

[5t] 


Resolved,  That  the  Presbytery  of  Westminster  will  miss 
him.  His  large  experience  and  thorough  knowledge  of  all 
that  pertained  to  the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  the 
Presbytery  was  cheerfully  given  to  use  for  the  highest  good 
of  the  whole. 

Resolved,  That  this  community  has  lost  a  citizen,  active 
and  ever  ready  to  do  his  part  in  promoting  the  moral  and 
intellectual  interests  of  the  people  whom  he  so  much  loved. 

Resolved,  That  we  commend  to  the  God  of  Providence 
and  Grace  his  beloved  wife  and  family,  that  amid  their  tears 
and  mourning  they  may  be  enabled  to  say,  "  The  Lord  gave, 
the  Lord  has  taken  away,  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  minutes  be  ejitered  upon 
the  sessional  records  and  a  copy  be  sent  to  the  family. 

(Signed)        John  M.  Brown, 
Henry  Small, 

W.  H.  McClellan,      !-  Elders. 
Jacob  Weltzhoffer, 
H.  W.  Hallock, 

The  following  resolutions  were  passed  at  a  special  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  of  Deacons  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  York,  Pa.,  held  May  i8,  a.d.  1900: 

Whereas,  God  in  His  All  Wise  Providence  has  seen  fit 
to  remove  from  our  midst  our  pastor  and  co-worker,  Henry 
Edward  Niles,  D.D., 

Resolved,  That  while  we  bow  in  humble  submission  to 
the  Divine  Will,  we  feel  that  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Niles  we 
have  lost  the  one  who  by  his  energy  and  progressiveness 
instituted  the  first  Board  of  Deacons  in  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church,  of  York,  Pa.,  and  who,  through  all  the 
succeeding  years,  never  failed  to  manifest  an  untiring  inter- 
est and  zeal  in  the  work  of  the  Board,  and  who  by  his  min- 

[52] 


a^emoir  of  l^enrp  aEbtoarti  ij^ile^ 

istrations  to  the  sick  and  suffering,  and  his  devotion  to  all  the 
best  interests  of  the  church  and  the  community  has  well 
earned  the  reward  of  the  good  and  faithful  servant. 

Resolved,  That  to  the  bereaved  widow  and  children  we 
tender  our  sincere  sympathy,  and  commend  them  in  their 
sore  affliction  to  the  One  who  can  heal  all  sorrow,  and 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  recorded  in  our  min- 
utes, and  be  published  in  the  daily  papers  of  the  city,  and 
that  a  copy  be  sent  to  the  bereaved  family. 

(Signed)        NiLES  H.  Shearer,  ^ 
Peter  McLean, 
S.  M.   Manifold,        -Deacons. 
Henry  R.  Kraber, 
J.  Hamilton  Small,- 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church,  of  York,  Pa.,  the  following  resolu- 
tions were  adopted: 

Although  Rev.  Henry  E,  Niles,  D.D.,  was  not  a  member 
of  our  Board,  he  was  our  beloved  pastor,  and  we  mourn 
his  loss  in  common  sympathy  with  others  in  church  and 
community.  As  those  in  charge  of  the  temporal  affairs  of 
the  church,  we  desire  to  bear  testimony  to  his  interest  in 
all  that  pertained  to  the  beauty  and  convenience  of  our 
church  property. 

It  was  with  great  interest  that  he  examined  the  plans  and 
w^atched  the  development  of  our  recently  enlarged  chapel, 
and  we  mourn  the  fact  that  he  did  not  have  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  the  completed  and  occupied  building. 

Although  we  will  not  see  him  go  in  and  out  before  us, 
and  although  never  again  will  he  stand  in  the  sacred  desk 
and  open  unto  us  the  Scriptures,  we  can  think  of  him  as 
engaged  in  the  work  of  his  Master,  in  the  mansions  above, 
in  the  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 

[53] 


Resolved,  That  this  minute  be  entered  upon  the  records 
of  the  Board  and  a  copy  sent  to  Mrs.  Niles  with  our  sym- 
pathy to  herself  and  family. 


(Signed)        John  H.  Small, 

Geo.  S.  Billmeyer, 
Henry  Small, 
W.  H.  McClellan, 
J  AS.  McLean, 


Trustees. 


BROTHERHOOD  RESOLUTIONS. 

Our  friend  and  brother,  Rev.  Dr.  H.  E.  Niles,  has  passed 
before  to  his  eternal  home  by  the  path  we  all  must  tread. 
Endowed  with  uncommon  mental  gifts,  possessed  of  un- 
usual energy  and  power  of  initiative,  it  has  been  given  to  few 
men  to  contribute  so  largely  to  the  intellectual,  moral,  and 
spiritual  welfare  of  the  community  in  which  their  lot  was 
cast.  This  organization  is  one  only  of  the  evidences  re- 
maining of  his  desire  to  become  an  instrument  in  promot- 
ing the  welfare  of  others.  To  him  it  owes  its  organization 
and,  although  it  cannot  perhaps  be  said  that  it  has  attained 
the  degree  of  efficiency  which  he  had  hoped  for,  yet  to  him 
more  than  to  any  other  person  is  due  its  continuation  to 
this  time.  He  was  a  natural  leader,  his  presence  was  always 
inspiring,  and  his  sympathetic  appreciation  of  the  efforts  of 
others  was  always  manifest. 

Resolved,  therefore.  That  we,  the  Brotherhood  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  York,  Pa.,  express  our  deep 
appreciation  of  the  loss  we  have  suffered  in  the  death  of 
Dr.  Niles,  and  of  the  obligation  resting  upon  us  to  make 
this  the  organization  which  he  desired  it  to  be;  also  that  we 
bear  testimony  to  his  faithfulness  as  a  friend,  his  zeal  and 
efficiency  as  a  pastor,  and  his  worth  as  a  man,  and 

[54] 


JkH^cmoir  of  i^enrp  €t>tDarti  ^iW 

Resolved,  That  our  sympathy  be  extended  to  his  bereaved 
widow  and  family. 

(Signed)         H.  D.  RuPP,  1  c^„,,„  .„^, 

Chas.  a.  Hawkins,  ) 

JUNIOR  CHRISTIAN  ENDEAVOR. 

Friday  Afternoon,  May  i8,  1900. 
Dear  Mrs.  Niles: 

The  members  of  the  Junior  Christian  Endeavor  Society 
want  to  tell  you  how  much  they  feel  for  you,  and  how  de- 
sirous they  are  that  their  prayers  may  be  answered  by  their 
Heavenly  Father,  which  they  offer  to  Him  for  you,  in  this 
time  of  your  deep  sorrow. 

The  words  of  our  dear  pastor  will  be  cherished  by  us,  and 
we  love  to  think  of  his  kind  interest  in  our  welfare.  The 
words  he  tried  to  impress  on  our  hearts,  we  hope  and  pray 
may  never  leave  us.  The  verse  that  we  recited  for  him 
when  he  was  with  us  was,  "  Thy  Word  have  I  hid  in  my 
heart,  that  I  might  not  sin  against  Thee." 

May  the  protecting  arms  of  your  Heavenly  Father  and 
ours  be  around  you, — for  does  He  not  notice  the  fall  of  a 
sparrow,  and  does  He  not  pity  His  children  more  than  an 
earthly  parent  or  friends  can? 

Into  His  care  we  would  place  you,  knowing  that  He 
careth  for  you. 

With  sympathy  and  love  we  sign  our  names,  represent- 
ing the  members  of  the  Junior  Christian  Endeavor  So- 
ciety. 

Miss  Harris,  Bruce  Ramsay, 

Laura  E.  Baker,        Elsie  Sullivan, 
Jane  F.  Kell,  Flora  Taylor, 

Bertie  S.  Bates,        Frances  Mills, 
Mabel  McClune,        Mary  Maxell, 
William  Stair,  Henry  Small. 

[55] 


a^emoir  of  J^enrp  <!EtitDarti  l^ile^ 

FROM   THE   WOMAN'S   HOME   AND   FOREIGN 

MISSIONARY  SOCIETIES  OF  THE  FIRST 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH   OF 

YORK,   PA. 

"  Whether  one  member  suffer,  all  the  members  suffer  with 

it";  so 
Dear  Mrs.  Niles: 

Your  sisters  of  the  Home  and  the  Foreign  Missionary- 
Societies,  being  one  with  you  in  Christ,  mourn  in  your  sad 
bereavement.  Our  hearts  are  filled  with  tender  sympathy 
and  our  eyes  dimmed  with  tears,  as  we  remember  you — 
stricken  in  your  dearest  tie;  the  Hght  of  your  home,  the 
partner  of  your  joys  and  your  sorrows,  the  strong  arm  and 
loving  heart  taken  from  you,  and  you  left  in  the  loneliness 
of  widowhood. 

Lonely — but  not  alone;  "cast  down,  but  not  forsaken." 
We  thank  God  that  you  have  found  the  "  Everlasting 
Arms  "  a  sure  support,  and  that  the  blessed  Jesus  has  made 
you  "  His  in  the  espousal  of  His  love; "  so  that  thy  Maker 
is  thy  Husband. 

We  do,  we  can  sympathize  with  you,  for  we  belong  to 
the  great  household  of  the  sorrowing.  Most  of  us  know 
what  it  is  to  wait  and  weep  for  the  "  touch  of  a  vanished 
hand,  and  the  sound  of  a  voice  that  is  still." 

Mourning  as  we  do  with  you,  we  can  yet  rejoice  that  our 
great  loss  has  been  our  beloved  pastor's  eternal  gam. 

To  our  dear  pastor: 

"  The  cross  left,  the  crown  won ; 
His  work  ended,  his  reward  begun." 

"  Knighted  on  the  field  "  by  the  Great  Captain  of  our 
salvation.     "  Crowned  in  Palm  Land,"  he  rests  among  those 

[56] 


"  who  have  washed  their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb." 

Trusting  in  the  Christ  whom  he  served,  death  to  him 
was  but  "  the  gateway  to  glory." 

The  long  years  of  loving,  faithful  service  given  to  the 
church  cannot  fail  to  leave  an  impression  on  the  town  and 
community;  and  only  the  roll-call  of  eternity  will  reveal  the 
results  of  his  labors  and  prayers. 

"  Since  thy  Father's  arm  sustains  thee, 

Peaceful  be; 
If  He  wound  thy  spirit  sore, 

Trust  Him  more. 
Whatsoe'er  betideth 

Night  or  day, 
Know,  His  love  for  thee  provideth 

Good :   alway." 

Afifectionately  yours,  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  sympathy, 


Rachael  K.  McCall,     ^ 

,^  T-    T^  t  Committee. 

Mary  E.  Kell, 


May  24,  1900. 


LADIES'  AID  SOCIETY,  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN 

CHURCH. 

To  our  beloved  sister,  Mrs.  H.  E.  Niles: 

We,  as  a  society,  extend  to  you  our  heartfelt  sympathy  in 
this  your  time  of  sore  bereavement  in  the  loss  of  your  dear 
husband  and  our  beloved  pastor.  We  desire  to  send  this 
letter  of  sympathy  as  a  token  of  our  affectionate  regard  and 
esteem  and  our  sense  of  the  loss  as  a  society  we  have  sus- 
tained in  his  death. 

We  feel  that  he  was  always  devoted  to  the  best  interests 
of  his  people,  and  we  recall  his  zeal  and  devotion  to  duty 

[57] 


which  he  manifested.     His  presence  was  always  an  inspira- 
tion. 

We  know  that  he  was  at  all  times  true  to  his  convictions, 
and  we  shall  miss  him  as  our  guide  and  adviser.  We  com- 
mend you  to  the  All-wise  and  loving  Father,  whose  mes- 
sages of  peace  and  love  our  pastor  so  often  carried  to  other 
suffering  hearts. 

Mrs.  E.  p.  Stair,      \ 

Mrs.  1,  C.  Gable,      >  Committee. 

Mrs.  W.  F.  Weiser,  ) 

WESTMINSTER  CHURCH. 

Resolutions  Adopted  May  i^,  igoo. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Rev.  Dr.  Henry  E.  Niles, 
the  oldest  Presbyterian  minister  in  the  city  of  York,  and 
pastor  for  thirty-five  years  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
the  parent  church  has  sustained  a  loss  and  sorrow  in  which 
we  deeply  share. 

Resolved,  That  not  only  have  all  the  churches  of  our 
denomination  met  with  a  sad  bereavement,  but  our  entire 
Christian  fellowship,  of  whatever  name,  has  lost  a  con- 
stant champion  of  its  common  faith  and  an  illustrious 
minister  of  its  broadest  charities,  and  the  community  at 
large  has  suffered  in  the  death  of  an  exemplary  citizen  and 
a  good  neighbor,  and  a  friend  and  helper  of  every  worthy 
cause. 

Resolved,  That  the  affliction  in  his  own  family,  while  it  is 
a  matter  into  which  we  may  not  intrude,  is  yet  not  beyond 
the  compass  of  God's  rich  grace  and  tenderest  blessing. 

Resolved,  That  we  commend  the  stricken  church  and  fam- 
ily to  that  Holy  Comforter,  the  Spirit  of  grace,  whose 

[58] 


messages  of  light  and  hope  our  departed  brother  so  often 
carried  to  other  suffering  hearts. 

Resolved,  That  these  resohitions  be  placed  upon  our  min- 
utes; that  a  copy  of  them  be  sent  to  the  family  of  the 
deceased,  and  that  they  be  published  in  the  daily  papers. 
Signed  by  the  Session, 

Rev.  Chas.  A.  Oliver,  Pastor. 

H.  S.  Myers,  C/erk  of  Session. 

Robert  J.  Dick, 

Albert  B.  Garner. 

RESOLUTIONS  OF  RESPECT. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
York  Collegiate  Institute,  held  on  May  17,  1900,  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  were  adopted: 

Whereas,  God  in  His  inscrutable  providence  has  called 
from  this  Board  one  more  of  our  number, 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Henry  Edward  Niles,  D.D., 
the  York  Collegiate  Institute  has  sustained  the  loss  of  one 
who  was  actively  and  closely  allied  to  the  Founder  in  every 
step  taken  to  bring  into  being  this  institution's  corporate 
existence,  and  who  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century 
watched  its  growth  and  advancement  with  the  kindliest  re- 
gard, and  for  a  like  period  served  its  interest  as  one  of  the 
charter  members  of  its  Board  of  Trustees.  In  the  death 
of  Dr.  Niles  the  community  suffers  the  loss  of  an  eminent 
citizen  whose  influence  was  active  and  far-reaching,  and  the 
members  of  his  parish  the  services  of  a  beloved  pastor,  upon 
whose  intellectual  attainments  and  many  virtues  their  mem- 
ory loves  to  dwell. 

Resolved,  That  to  his  bereaved  widow  and  family  we  ex- 
tend our  sincerest  sympathy,  and  commend  them  in  this 

[59] 


sr^cmoir  of  i^enrp  €bh)arti  ^iW 

hour  of  deep  affliction  to  the  care  and  guidance  of  that 
Master  to  whose  service  the  husband  and  father  had  dedi- 
cated his  earthly  life,  and 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  our  min- 
utes; that  they  be  published  in  the  daily  papers  of  the  city 
of  York,  and  that  a  copy  be  sent  to  the  family  of  the  de- 
ceased. 

Geo.  S.  Schmidt, 
Secretary  pro  tern,  of  Board  of  Trustees 

of  the  York  Collegiate  Institute. 

RESOLUTIONS  ON  THE  DEATH  OF  REV.  HENRY 

E.  NILES,  D.D.,  ADOPTED  BY  THE  YORK 

MINISTERIAL  ASSOCIATION  ON 

JUNE   II,    1900. 

Whereas,  Almighty  God  in  His  infinite  wisdom  has  called 
away  one  of  the  beloved  members  of  our  association,  the 
Rev.  Henry  E.  Niles,  D.D.,  from  his  labors  on  earth  to  his 
rest  in  heaven,  and 

Whereas,  Dr.  Niles  has  been  from  the  very  beginning  of 
our  Ministerial  Association  to  the  end  of  his  life  a  constant 
and  active  member  of  the  same,  and 

Whereas,  We  have  learned  to  love  and  esteem  him  for 
the  deep  interest  which  he  manifested  in  the  moral  reforms 
in  our  city  and  the  spiritual  progress  of  our  churches,  and 
also  for  his  wise  counsel  and  active  co-operation  in  every 
important  undertaking,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That,  while  his  death  is  a  great  loss  to  our  as- 
sociation, and  we  sorrow  most  of  all  that  we  shall  see  his 
face  no  more  on  earth;  yet  we  rejoice  in  the  firm  belief  that 
the  step  between  his  life  and  death  was  but  the  step  between 
earth  and  glory,  and  that  when  earth's  separations  shall  be 

[60] 


St^citioir  of  i^cnrp  €tituarti  ^iW 

at  an  end,  we  shall  meet  again  in  the  unclouded  sunshine  of 
God's  presence. 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  the  large  and  flourishing  con- 
gregation of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  York,  gath- 
ered during  his  ministry  of  thirty-five  years,  as  his  most 
eloquent  eulogy  and  enduring  monument. 

Resolved,  That  we  attribute  his  success,  under  God,  to 
his  powerful  orthodox,  biblical  preaching,  his  judicious, 
prudent  leadership,  and  his  faithfulness  as  a  pastor,  where- 
by souls  were  won  for  Christ,  and  which  gained  for  him  the 
love  and  respect  of  his  people. 

Resolved,  That  our  Ministerial  Association  will  greatly 
miss  the  presence,  wise  counsel,  and  active  co-operation  of 
Dr.  Niles;  that  the  city  of  York  has  lost  a  useful  and  law- 
abiding  citizen;  that  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  York 
has  sustained  a  great  loss  in  the  death  of  their  beloved  pas- 
tor, and  his  family  has  suffered  an  irreparable  loss  in  the 
death  of  the  husband  and  the  father;  yet  they  need  not 
mourn  as  those  who  have  no  hope,  for  he  has  only  gone  be- 
fore to  that  home  which  the  Savior  has  prepared  for  those 
that  love  Him  in  the  mansions  of  our  Father's  house,  where 
there  shall  be  no  more  separation,  no  more  sickness,  and  no 
more  death. 

Resolved,  That  we  assure  the  bereaved  family  of  our  heart- 
felt sympathy,  and  that  these  resolutions  shall  be  engraved 
on  our  minutes,  and  a  copy  of  the  same  be  sent  to  the  family. 
By  the  Committee, 

P.  Anstadt, 

A.  G.  Fastnacht, 

U.    F.    SWENGEL, 

E.  S.  Hagen,  Secretary. 


[6i] 


a^emoir  of  J^enrp  ^titoarti  l^ilc^ef 


TRIBUTE  TO  THE  LATE  REV.  H.  E.  NILES,  D.D. 

Following  is  the  report  of  the  committee  appointed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Westminster  at  its  late  meeting  at  Middle 
Octoraro  Church,  to  prepare  a  minute  upon  the  death  of 
Rev.  Henry  E.  Niles,  D.D.: 

It  is  with  profound  sorrow  we  record  the  death,  on  the 
14th  of  May  last,  of  the  Rev.  Henry  E.  Niles,  D.D.,  pastor 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  York,  called  to  this 
church  in  April,  1865,  while  it  was  connected  with  the  New 
School  body.  He  became  a  member  of  this  Presbytery  at 
the  time  of  the  re-union  and  has  responded  to  its  roll-call 
for  the  long  period  of  thirty  years.  The  omission  of  that 
familiar  name  at  this  meeting  was  deeply  impressive  and  the 
thought  of  his  absence  saddening.  A  life  so  long  and  use- 
ful and  a  pastorate  so  prolonged  and  successful  is  instructive 
and  inspiring. 

He  was  a  man  of  positive  convictions,  enterprising  and 
progressive,  genial  and  kind  toward  his  brethren,  and  in  his 
home  most  hospitable.  He  was  esteemed  and  honored  as 
a  brother  and  as  a  presbyter,  his  counsel  valued  and  his 
services  trusted,  whether  acting  upon  its  committees  or  as 
a  representative  in  the  higher  courts  of  the  Church.  He 
was  chosen  moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  in  1874, 
and  was  an  associate  member  of  the  Ecumenical  Council  at 
Edinburgh,  Scotland,  in  1877,  and  for  many  years  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Ministerial  Relief  and  a  Trustee  of 
Lincoln  University. 

He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  Church  at  large,  was 
jealous  for  the  honor  of  Presbyterianism,  and  toward  the 

[62] 


St^emoir  of  l^cnrp  €tittjaiti  ^iW 

questions  of  doctrine  agitating  the  mind  of  the  Church 
maintained  a  liberal  attitude.. 

As  a  pastor  his  heart  was  closely  knit  to  his  people — the 
First  Church,  York,  was  his  love  and  his  pride  and  its  pros- 
perity his  supreme  joy.  As  love  begets  love,  so  he  won  a 
near  place  to  the  hearts  of  his  people. 

He  was  a  sincere  man,  a  man  of  prayer  and  deep  spiritual- 
ity. He  was  a  conscientious  evangelical  preacher.  He 
honored  the  Word  of  God  and  so  fed  his  people  with  the 
bread  from  Heaven.  He  had  the  aggressiveness  and  the 
prudence  which  made  him  an  effective  leader,  enabling  him 
to  command  the  confidence  of  his  people  and  their  co- 
operation in  his  enterprises  and  led  their  activities  with  un- 
abated zeal  to  the  last.  The  large  accessions  to  his  church 
upon  profession  of  faith  and  the  extensive  material  improve- 
ment completed  during  the  year  just  past  testify  to  his 
sustained  vigor  and  efficiency  at  the  advanced  age  of  sev- 
enty-six. There  was  no  dead  line  in  his  ministry.  He  was 
an  illustration  of  the  fact  that  youthful  spirit  can  survive  the 
years  and  increase  the  value  and  attraction  of  maturity. 

We  thank  God  for  the  life  and  service  of  our  brother,  for 
all  he  was  to  this  Presbytery,  and  to  that  church  and  to  that 
community  in  whose  life  he  had  enabled  this  church  to  be- 
come so  important  a  factor. 

We,  to-day,  affectionately  and  tenderly  commend  that 
church  and  the  afflicted  companion,  so  fully  one  with  him 
in  his  labors  and  whose  wisdom  and  devotion  were,  a  con- 
stant inspiration,  to  the  care  of  a  faithful  God,  and  our 
thoughts  follow  him  to  a  higher  sphere  and  still  wider  min- 
istries, while  we  feel  ourselves  as  ministers  and  elders  called 
to  greater  fidelity  in  feeding  the  flocks  of  God,  thankful  that 
God  has  counted  us  worthy,  putting  us  in  the  ministry,  and 
hopeful  that  when  the  Chief  Shepherd  shall  appear,  that  we, 

L63] 


^emoit  of  i^enrp  ^titoarti  j^iW 

together  with  our  brother,  shall  receive  a  crown  of  glory 
that  fadeth  not  away. 

Geo.  Wells  Ely,  Chairman. 

D.  R.  Workman, 

H.  W.  Hallock. 

The  above  report,  after  remarks  by  Rev.  J.  Y.  Mitchell, 
D.D.,  and  Rev.  Joseph  D.  Smith,  and  after  being  led  in 
prayer  by  Rev.  W.  G,  Cairnes,  was  unanimously  approved 
by  Presbytery. 

Attest:  W.  G.  Cairnes, 

Stated  Clerk. 

RESOLUTIONS  OF  LINCOLN  UNIVERSITY,  OX- 
FORD.    DR.    I.    RANDALL,   PRESIDENT. 

The  Trustees  of  Lincoln  University  unite  in  expressing 
their  sense  of  the  great  loss  which  has  befallen  this  institu- 
tion by  the  death  of  our  beloved  Rev.  Henry  E.  Niles,  D.D. 

In  his  office  among  us  he  was  always  considerate,  earnest, 
hopeful,  and  he  was  ever  a  deviser  of  liberal  things  for  our 
great  work. 

God  has  taken  him  from  his  labor  in  this  institution  and 
from  all  his  earthly  labors  to  his  heavenly  reward.  He  has 
joined  the  goodly  company  that  in  former  years  planned 
and  labored  with  us  here  and  have  entered  into  the  joy  of 
their  Lord. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  present  to  the  widow  and  family 
of  our  departed  brother  and  to  the  church  and  congregation 
over  which  he  had  so  long  presided  as  a  faithful  and  beloved 
pastor  their  heartfelt  sympathy  in  their  sore  bereavement. 
And  we  prayerfully  commend  them  to  the  loving  sympathy 
of  our  loving  Savior  and  to  the  comfort  of  His  grace. 

We  all  unite  in  saying  of  our  absent  and  beloved  brother, 

[64] 


"  Very  pleasant  hast  thou  been  to  us."  And  we  pray  that 
He  who  made  him  such  a  joy  to  all  his  earthly  relations  may 
soothe  the  sorrow  of  his  friends  and  kindred  by  the  comfort 
of  the  same  faith  in  which  he  lived  when  he  moved  among 
us.  J.  M.  Galbreath, 

Secretary. 

BOARD    OF    MINISTERIAL    RELIEF    OF    PRES- 
BYTERIAN CHURCH. 

WiTHERSPOON  Building,  Philadelphia. 

The  special  committee  of  the  Board  of  Relief  appointed 
to  prepare  a  minute  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Niles  presented  the 
following,  which  was  adopted: 

Dr.  Niles  was  born  in  South  Hadley,  Mass.,  August  15, 
1823,  and  died  at  York,  Pa.,  May  14,  1900,  aged  seventy- 
six  years,  nine  months  and  twenty-nine  days.  He  was 
graduated  at  Union  College,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  in  1844, 
and  at  Princeton  Theological  Seminary  in  1848.  He  was 
ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Columbia,  and  installed  pastor 
of  the  church  at  Valatie  (Kinderhook),  N.  Y.,  October  24, 
1848.  June  26,  1850,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jeannie  E. 
Marsh,  at  Lowell,  Mass.  His  widow  and  three  sons  survive 
him.  Two  of  his  sons  are  lawyers,  and  one  a  minister  of 
the  Gospel.  His  health  failed  him  in  1855  and  he  resigned 
his  pastoral  charge  for  a  year's  rest  and  travel.  When  he 
regained  his  health  he  supplied  the  church  at  Angelica, 
N.  Y.,  from  1856  to  1859.  He  was  called  in  1859  to  the 
North  Church  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  supplied  as 
pastor-elect.  In  1861  he  received  and  accepted  a  call  to 
Albion,  N.  Y.  In  1865  he  was  called  to  the  First  Church, 
of  York,  Pa.,  and  was  installed  as  pastor  there  April  16, 
1865,  and  continued  as  pastor  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  a 

[65] 


period  of  thirty-five  years.  In  1875  the  honorary  title  of 
D.D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Wooster  University.  We 
are  not  surprised  that  he  remained  so  long  in  the  pastorate 
of  one  congregation,  when  we  consider  the  elements  which 
entered  into  the  make-up  of  his  character.  He  had  the  wit- 
ness, in  a  very  unusual  degree,  that  he  was  counted  worthy 
of  the  high  calling  of  an  Ambassador  of  Christ.  He  was  a 
man  of  fine  intellectual  abilities,  a  conscientious  student, 
an  earnest  Christian,  a  dignified  gentleman,  a  sincere  friend, 
a  warm-hearted  and  sympathetic  pastor,  ever  faithful  in  all 
his  work;  a  forceful  preacher,  a  wise  and  prudent  counsellor, 
possessing  rare  executive  ability,  and  altogether,  a  man  who 
won  the  confidence  and  affection  of  his  people,  and  was  a 
tower  of  strength  in  the  midst  of  his  congregation.  He  was 
a  trustee  in  York  Collegiate  Institute  and  also  in  Lincoln 
University.  He  was  a  good  presbyter,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  business  of  our  ecclesiastical  assemblies,  and  in 
1874  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  honored  him  with  the  mod- 
eratorship  of  that  body.  He  was  elected  a  Director  of  the 
Board  of  Relief  in  1876,  and  became  a  charter  member,  and 
served  most  faithfully  as  a  member  of  this  Board  up  until 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  brought  with  him  to  the  Board 
all  the  fine  qualities  which  made  him  successful  as  a  pastor. 
He  was  regular  in  his  attendance,  wise  in  counsel,  and  always 
manifested  a  heartfelt  sympathy  for  the  needy  and  worthy 
annuitants  of  the  Board.  His  presence  was  a  benediction. 
He  won  our  love  and  we  deplore  our  loss,  but  God  has  taken 
him  to  a  realm  of  higher  usefulness,  near  Himself. 

B.  L.  Agnew, 
Corresponding  Secretary. 


66] 


a^cmoir  of  i^mrp  €titDarti  ^iW 

RESOLUTIONS  ADOPTED  BY  THE  YORK  HIS- 
TORICAL SOCIETY. 

York,  Pa.,  March  i6,  1901. 
Mrs.  Dr.  H.  E.  Niles,  York,  Pa.: 

Dear  Madam — I  beg  to  present  herewith  the  resolu- 
tions adopted  by  the  York  County  Historical  Society  at  the 
last  regular  meeting.  I  trust  it  may  convey  to  you  our 
high  appreciation  of  your  deceased  husband's  great  worth 
and  at  the  same  time  our  condolence  with  you  in  his  separa- 
tion from  us.     I  beg  to  remain, 

Very  truly  yours, 

Reinhardt  Dempwolf, 
Corresponding  Secretary. 

Resolved,  That  this  society  place  on  record  its  apprecia- 
tion and  sense  of  obligation  to  our  deceased  member,  Rev. 
H.  E.  Niles,  D.D.,  for  his  vigorous  and  continuous  assiduity 
in  seeking  to  make  it  what  it  was  originally  designed  to  be, 
a  useful  institution  now  and  hereafter  to  the  community  at 
large;  and  that  we  express  our  sense  of  the  fact  that,  what- 
ever may  be  the  future  developments  with  respect  to  the 
society,  it  will  owe  much  to  Dr.  Niles  and  his  forceful  partici- 
pation in  its  counsels  during  its  inception  and  throughout 
what  we  hope  may  prove  to  be  the  least  encouraging  period 
of  its  existence. 

RESOLUTIONS  OF  RESPECT. 

The  following  resolutions  on  the  death  of  Rev.  H.  E. 
Niles,  D.D.,  the  president  of  the  Advisory  Board,  were 
passed  unanimously  by  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Crit- 
tendon  Home: 

[67] 


0^emoir  of  i^cntp  CtiUjatti  ^iW 

Whereas,  It  has  pleased  our  Heavenly  Father  to  promote 
from  earth  to  Heaven  our  friend  and  co-worker,  Rev.  Henry 
E.  Niles,  D.D., 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Man- 
agers of  the  Crittendon  Home,  do  humbly  bow  in  submis- 
sion to  His  will. 

Resolved,  While  deeply  grateful  for  the  evidence  of  God's 
infinite  love  in  all  our  association,  that  in  this  dispensation 
of  our  all-wise  Ruler  our  home  has  lost  a  wise  counsellor 
and  guide,  and  one  who  has  never  failed  to  manifest  his  un- 
tiring interest  in  the  welfare  of  those  whom  we  are  seeking 
to  rescue. 

Dr.  Niles  was  the  first  person  selected  to  serve  on  our 
Advisory  Board;  always  in  his  place  and  always  equal  to  the 
occasion. 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  entered  in  our  min- 
utes, and  a  copy  be  sent  to  the  bereaved  family. 

In  deepest  sympathy, 

The  Boaed  of  Managers, 

OzELLA  L.  Boyd, 
Corresponding  Secretary. 

May  25,  1900. 

ACTION  OF  LITERARY  CLUB,  "  UTILE  CUM 
DULCI." 

Dear  Mrs.  Niles: 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  "  Utile  Cum 
Dulci,"  called  May  17,  1900,  to  take  action  in  regard  to  the 
death  of  Rev.  Henry  E.  Niles,  D.D.,  late  a  member  of  that 
literary  society,  the  following  minute  was  adopted. 

D.  E.  Small, 
Secretary  "  U.  C.  D." 
[68] 


JtU^emoir  of  i^cnrp  €DtDarti  ^iW 

In  the  death  of  Rev.  Henry  Edward  Niles,  D.D.,  another 
link  has  been  broken  in  the  golden  chain  that  binds  together 
the  members  of  the  Utile  Cum  Dulci. 

In  his  life  and  character  assembled  a  rare  combination  of 
virtues  and  abilities.  He  was  genial  and  sympathetic,  wide 
in  experience,  mature  in  judgment,  and  facile  with  tongue 
and  pen;  distinguished  alike  for  Hterary  attainments  and  ripe 
scholarship.  His  devout  Christian  character  influenced  all 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  The  memory  of  the  pleas- 
ant associations  and  delightful  intercourse  enjoyed  by  the 
members  of  the  Utile  Cum  Dulci  as  they  together  com- 
muned with  the  master  spirits  of  the  past  and  present,  the 
great  and  good  of  all  ages,  will  be  a  source  of  lasting  enjoy- 
ment, though  tinged  with  sadness  in  view  of  the  vacant  seats 
in  the  circle. 

One  by  one  our  beloved  workers  cease  from  their  labors, 
and  familiar  faces  fade  away  from  sight.  Yet,  death  is  only 
the  door  between  the  daylight  here  and  the  undeclining 
light  beyond.  It  is  only  a  little  way  across,  and  when  sun- 
set came  to  our  dear  departed  friend  there  was  a  golden 
path  all  the  way  over  to  the  Celestial  country. 

To  the  sorrowing  household  we  extend  our  loving  sym- 
pathy in  this  sad  bereavement.  While  we  mourn  the  loss 
of  our  venerated  and  beloved  friend,  Dr.  Niles,  we  will  ever 
cherish  his  memory  with  affectionate;  regard. 

(Signed)         Maky  E.  Kell, 

Rachael  K.  McCall, 
Maggie  M.  Small. 

David  E.  Small,  Secretary. 


[69] 


"  It  singeth  low  in  every  heart, 
We  hear  it  one  and  all ; 
A  song  of  those  who  answer  not, 
However  we  may  call. 
They  throng  the  silence  of  the  breast, 
We  see  them  as  of  yore, — 
The  kind,  the  true,  the  brave,  the  sweet. 
Who  walk  with  us  no  more. 


'Tis  hard  to  take  the  burden  up 

When  they  have  laid  it  down ; 

They  brightened  all  the  joy  of  life, 

They  softened  every  frown. 

But  oh !  'tis  good  to  think  of  them 

When  we  are  troubled  sore. 

Thanks  be  to  God,  that  such  have  been. 

Although  they're  here  no  more. 

More  home-like  seems  the  vast  unknown. 
Since  they  have  entered  there; 
To  follow  them  were  not  so  hard, 
Wherever  they  may  fare; 
They  cannot  be  where  God  is  not, 
On  any  sea,  or  shore ; 
Whate'er  betide.  Thy  love  abides, 
Our  God!  forever  more." 


[70] 


CHAPTER   VI 

Letters  of  Condolence 

THE  hundreds  of  letters  sent  after  Dr.  Niles's  death, 
containing  expressive  appreciation  of  his  traits  and 
influence,  would  of  themselves  make  a  volume. 
One  unvarjdng  testimony  to  his  wonderful  symmetry  of 
character,  magnetism,  great  capacity  for  affection,  genius 
for    friendship,    ripe    scholarship    and    forcefulness,    runs 
through  them  all. 

A  few  specimens  are  given  here  of  the  epistolary  cordials 
God  sent  by  the  hands  of  His  servants  to  minister  to  faint- 
ing lips  and  bleeding  hearts  by  the  open  sepulchre. 

They  were  such  heavenly  manna,  such  balm  of  healing, 
such  elixirs  of  immortal  hope,  such  soul  tonics,  that  it  seems 
grossest  selfishness  not  to  share  some  of  them  with  other 
sorrowing  ones  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death, 
through  which  sooner  or  later  all  must  pass. 

From  the  Rev.   Edward  Taylor,   D.D.,   of   Binghamton, 

N.  Y.: 

"  My  long-time  and  beloved  Friend: 

"And  Henry  is  translated  in  peace!     This  morning  I 

have  devoted  to  a  careful  perusal  of  the  varied  reports  of 

his  life,  departure,  funeral  exercises,  letters,  etc.     What  a 

tender  laying  of  his  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  God's  Acre! 

"  With  the  jealousy  of  love  I  read  and  am  more  than  sat- 

[71] 


Sr^cmoir  of  i^cnrp  <!Etituarti  0x\t^ 

isfied;  could  kiss  the  hem  of  the  robe  of  the  many  who  so 
appreciatingly  spoke  and  acted.     He  was  worthy. 

"  You  and  he  entered  largely  into  my  life  in  the  earlier 
years  of  his  ministry.  His  devotion  to  you  was  beautiful. 
The  memory  of  things  said  and  done  has  been  perennial. 
And  how  replete  with  cheery  memories  must  your  life  be! 

"  He  and  I  were  only  two  years  apart.  Now  I  am  sev- 
enty-eight years  young!  Health  perfect!  Never  more 
privileged  with  opportunities  for  fruitful  service  for  Christ. 
In  four  days  last  month  met  nine  public  appointments. 
Knowing  it  is  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  with  me,  I  pro- 
pose to  make  the  most  of  myself  for  our  Saviour.  He  un- 
derstands me  and  enters  into  the  plan,  prompt  with  His 
*  As  ' — to  which  I  aim  promptly  to  fit  my  '  So.'  That 
same,  only  in  a  completer  measure,  was  Henry  E.  Niles. 

"  He  was  a  Man — written  with  a  capital  M.  He  was 
white-souled,  high-caste,  consecrated  to  the  person  and 
world-purpose  of  Jesus  Christ.  Into  his  being  was  bedded 
a  large  bit  of  the  Rock  of  Ages! 

"  The  bells  of  the  Heavenly  City  must  have  pealed  right 
joyfully  when  he  entered  its  holy  gates. 

"  Grief  is  medicinable,  divinely  compounded — is  the  pre- 
scription administered  to  your  stricken  heart. 

"  Such  a  long  and  happy  union!  Such  children!  Such 
memories!  Such  hopes!  Such  a  Paraclete!  Such  a  little 
while!" 

From  the  Rev.  Wilmer  McNair: 

"  You  are  in  the  years  of  fruitage,  rather  than  planting. 
No  new  duties,  experiences,  and  associations  stand  between 
you  and  the  one  who  has  gone. 

"  A  clearer  vision  of  our  Father's  house  and  face  given 
through  our  earthly  loves  and  longings." 

[72] 


Q^cmoir  of  l^nirp  ^tJluarti  j^iW 

From  the  Rev.  David  M.  Skilling,  Central  Church,  Alle- 
gheny: 
"  His  was  truly  a  noble  life.  It  was  lived  for  the  Master, 
and  was  a  blessed  walk  with  God.  He  bore  a  heavenly  tes- 
timony and  made  the  Gospel  beautiful  and  attractive,  as 
well  as  powerful  in  the  salvation  of  souls,  because  of  his 
pure  life  and  his  scholarly  presentation  of  the  truth.  The 
world  is  better  and  purer  because  he  lived  in  it,  and  Heaven 
has  crowned  him  with  a  rich  reward.  His  cheerful  presence 
always  refreshed  me,  and  I  shall  never  forget  his  gracious 
courtesy." 

From  the  Rev.  M.  L.  Haines,  D.D.,  Indianapolis: 

"  I  remember  how  I  saw  you  last,  one  year  ago  in  Min- 
neapolis, in  Westminster  Church.  Your  noble  husband 
seemed  then  so  young,  vigorous,  cheerful,  and  genial  as  of 
old  in  our  European  trip,  that  I  felt  he  had  long  years  before 
him  in  this  world. 

"  What  precious  memories  are  yours !  What  an  excep- 
tionally happy  and  prosperous  life  has  been  your  lot !  What 
fruitage  have  5^ou  already  gathered! 

"  The  fragrance  of  that  beautiful  life  has  gone  out  far 
and  wide  through  our  churches  in  America,  and  how  many 
are  scattered  all  over  the  world  who  have  special  reason  to 
thank  God  for  the  influences  of  his  life  and  ministry." 

From  the  Rev.  John  M.  Galbreath,  Presbytery  of  Westmin- 
ster: 
"  He  was  one  of  God's  noblemen.  He  was  my  ideal  of  a 
pastor  and  minister  of  the  Word.  His  interest  in  the  King- 
dom was  always  an  inspiration  to  us  all.  We  shall  sorely 
miss  him  in  our  councils.  He  has  entered  into  the  higher 
service  above. 

[73] 


!3t^cmoir  of  J^enirp  €titoarti  0iW 

"  The  word  that  comes  continually  to  me  since  I  heard  of 
his  ascension  is:  *  If  any  man  serve  Me,  him  will  My 
Father  honor.'  The  time  for  his  promotion  had  come.  He 
continued  faithful  to  the  end.     He  is  now  on  his  throne." 

From  the  Rev.  George  Wells  Ely,  of  Columbia,  Pa.: 

"  This  is  the  one  time  in  your  life  when  while  you  suffer  he 
rejoices.  He  has  only  stepped  into  another  sphere,  hidden 
from  your  view,  beyond  resch  of  voice  or  touch,  but  serving 
the  same  Master  we  are.  Such  a  husband  can  never  in  one 
sense  be  taken  from  you.  *  *  *  They  continue  to  in- 
fluence our  lives  and  conduct  to  the  last  breath.  I  wonder 
to  what  extent  they  carry  our  influence  with  them — if  it 
affects  their  thoughts  and  condition  in  Heaven. 

"  He  was  summoned  from  his  post  where  the  messenger 
found  him  with  his  harness  on.  It  always  cheered  me  to 
just  think  of  him  in  his  successful  prolonged  ministry.  His 
loss  will  be  felt  in  a  wide  sphere;  how  wide  will  never  be 
known  here." 

From  Rev.  Dr.  Herrick  Johnson  (McCormick  Theological 
Seminary),  Chicago: 

"  I  hasten  to  tell  you  of  our  sympathy  both  in  your  sor- 
row and  your  joy,  your  trial  and  your  triumph.  Surely  the 
sorrow  is  swept  through  and  through  with  joy,  and  the  trial 
is  lost  in  the  triumph. 

"  It  will  be  hard  for  you  to  walk  on  alone,  but  with  such 
memories  and  such  hopes  the  cross  will  be  borne  with  a 
chastened  cheerfulness,  and  some  day — not  far  off — one 
more  silver  cord  will  be  broken;  and  you  will  be  together, 
will  be  forever  with  the  Lord. 

"  Your  husband  and  I  touched  each  other  in  the  sixties. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  I  knew  and  one  of  the  first  I  loved 

[74] 


in  the  early  ministerial  days.  We  have  not  met  so  much 
of  late,  but  I  have  always  thought  of  him  as  one  of  the  life- 
long friendships,  and  his  death  comes  to  me  with  peculiar 
tenderness. 

"  We  pray  God's  blessing  of  peace  on  your  home  and 
heart  and  know  that  this  shadow,  however  dark,  will  only 
usher  you  into  a  more  beautiful  day  with  God." 

From  Rev.  Dr.  William  S.  Freas,  Pastor  Grace  English 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  Baltimore: 

"  It  is  wonderful  how  Dr.  Niles  has  fastened  himself  in 
the  warm  afifection  of  his  friends.  I  find  myself  as  much 
saddened  by  his  unexpected  death  as  if  I  had  received  the 
news  of  the  loss  of  a  dear  relative. 

"  Through  the  fifteen  years  we  were  co-pastors  in  York, 
his  friendship  has  been  an  honor,  his  sympathy  and  encour- 
agement a  stimulus  to  noble  and  honorable  service. 

"  He  always  seemed  one  of  us.  Just  as  young,  just  as 
keenly  alive  to  present  issues,  and  never  to  the  last  showing 
any  signs  that  intellectually  or  physically  he  felt  the  burden 
of  years. 

"  It  will  be  a  sweet  thought  when  my  day  of  parting  with 
time  shall  tome  that  this  genial  friend  and  lover  of  his  kind 
will  be  among  the  w^elcoming  host  that  wait  our  coming 
home. 

"  I  deeply  sympathize  with  you  in  the  bitterness  of  your 
cup  and  the  pain  of  your  loss.  But  I  know  you  will  show 
all  about  you  how  one  who  has  the  Everlasting  Arms  under- 
neath can  bear  sorrow." 

From  Rev.  Dr.  George  Smythe,  East  Orange: 
"Sorely  Bereaved  One: 

"  Knowing  how  truly  you  were  one  in  all  that  little  word 

[75  J 


implies,  I  can  understand  how  unusually  keen  and  desolat- 
ing must  be  your  sorrow.  My  whole  heart  goes  out  to  you 
in  prayerful  sympathy,  and  to  the  dear  boys  who  are  now 
deprived  of  the  best  of  fathers. 

"  The  pleasant  and  profitable  memories  the  departed  has 
left,  the  comfort  in  the  fact  that  unerring  wisdom  and  infinite 
love  took  him  at  the  right  time,  and  that  there  is  soon  to 
be  a  meeting  time  where  there  will  be  no  more  separations; 
these  facts  have  helped  me  through  desolating  bereave- 
ments.    May  they  console  you." 

From  an  old  college  friend  and  co-presbyter  in  St.  Louis, 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  Germain  Porter,  Watertown,  N.  Y.: 
"  What  precious  memories  throng  and  thrill  me  at  Henry 
Niles's  name!  Union  College!  Old  Princeton!  Angelica! 
St.  Louis!  Albion!  York!  Though  younger,  Henry  is 
first  translated." 

From  Rev.  Dr.  George  S.  Chambers,  Harrisburg,  Pa.: 

"  I  had  learned  to  have  a  great  admiration  for  Dr.  Niles, 
as  a  pastor,  a  scholar,  a  public-spirited  citizen,  a  Christian 
gentleman,  and  a  personal  friend. 

"  He  has  done  a  grand  work  for  the  Master  whom  he 
loved  and  served  with  an  enthusiastic  devotion. 

"  You  have  the  memories  of  a  beautiful  life,  the  assurance 
of  the  perfect  life  into  which  he  has  entered,  as  well  as  the 
presence  of  the  dear  Redeemer  to  whom  your  beloved  hus- 
band was  loyal  in  every  fibre  of  his  being.  His  hosts  of 
friends  will  miss  him;  his  church  will  miss  him;  the  Presby- 
terian Church  will  miss  him. 

"  Sympathy  for  you  takes  the  form  of  fervent  prayer  for 
the  abiding  presence  of  Him  whom  Dr.  Niles  loved  to 
preach,  and  with  whom  he  will  be  forever." 

[76] 


Sl^cmoir  of  i^mrp  ^tituarti  ^ilt^ 

From  the  Rev.  Dr.  B.  L.  Agnew,  of  Philadelphia: 

"  I  dearly  loved  Dr.  Niles.  To  me  he  was  so  very  lov- 
able. His  soul  was  so  pure,  sincere,  and  noble.  We  shall 
miss  him  greatly  in  the  Board  of  Relief!  O !  what  a  vacancy 
his  removal  has  caused." 

From  Rev.  Dr.  T.  H.  Robinson,  Allegheny  Theological 
Seminary:- 

"  When  I  read  of  your  honored  husband's  death  I  felt 
like  stealing  away  to  some  secret  place  and  giving  way  to 
my  grief. 

"  O !  I  would  like  to  tell  you  the  many  dear  things  my 
heart  whispers  of  Dr.  Niles.  Through  all  the  years  of  our 
acquaintance,  beginning  in  1865,  I  have  found  him  so 
courteous,  genial  and  true,  so  ready  in  all  friendly  and 
brotherly  attentions,  so  sympathetic  mentally  and  spiritually, 
that  I  tied  myself  to  him." 

From  Rev.  Dr.  S.  W.  Dana,  West  Philadelphia: 

"  I  can  scarcely  believe  the  telegraph  of  the  death  of  your 
noble,  beloved  husband.  Only  a  few  days  ago  I  was  read- 
ing an  historical  sermon  of  his,  and  was  reminded  anew  of 
his  long  and  fruitful  ministry. 

"  My  friendship  with  him  extends  over  many  years.  We 
met  so  often  at  Lincoln  University,  and  it  was  always  a  joy 
to  see  him.  His  deep,  strong  life  has  been  such  a  blessing 
to  others." 

From  Rev.  Dr.  W.  R.  Bingham,  Oxford,  Pa.: 

"  I  was  looking  forward  to  a  pleasant  meeting  with  your 
dear  husband  in  the  near  future,  when  I  was  shocked  by  the 
unexpected  announcement  of  his  departure  from  earth, 
"  We  have  had  many  pleasant  meetings  together  on  earth, 

[77] 


0^emoit  of  J^enrp  Clitoarti  j^ik^ 

but  these  are  past.  The  next  one,  I  trust,  will  be  before  the 
throne  above.  I  can  say  of  him  as  David  of  Jonathan, '  Very 
pleasant  hast  thou  been  unto  me.' 

"  I  am  bereaved  by  this  translation,  and  am  better  pre- 
pared by  it  to  sympathize  with  your  sons  who  weep  with  you. 
But  why  should  we  weep  for  one  to  whom  Jesus  has  said, 
*  Come  up  higher,  blessed  of  my  Father;  inherit  the  king- 
dom prepared  for  you.' 

"  His  life-work  was  well  done.  The  fruit  gathered  and 
to  be  gathered  is  precious  and  plentiful.  Many  sick  beds 
have  been  made  bright  and  cheerful.  Many  sorrowing 
hearts  taught  to  rejoice.  Many  strong  Christians  edified 
and  enlarged.  Many  wayward  lives  have  been  made  Christ- 
like, aided  and  directed  by  his  ministry.  His  home  and  the 
homes  of  his  children  were  made  pleasant  by  his  presence. 

"  Though  you  are  lonely,  you  are  not  alone.  Say  to  your 
sons  their  father's  friend  is  afflicted  in  their  affliction." 

From  Rev.  Dr.  F.  J.  Sauber,  Emporia,  Kan.: 

"  My  last  letter  from  Dr.  Niles  was  full  of  hope  and  cheer, 
a  beautiful  reflection  of  his  bright,  happy  spirit.  He  was 
telling  me  about  his  beloved  First  Church  of  York,  and  how 
in  two  days  after  he  had  mentioned  to  them  his  desire  for 
an  assistant  they  had  with  loving  alacrity  raised  the  salary 
and  empowered  him  to  select  one.  He  wrote  of  his  plans. 
"Ah!  how  little  we  know  of  the  honor  and  glory  the 
Father  has  so  near  for  His  own. 

"  How  we  continue  to  use  the  language  of  Askalon  and 
Philistia  even  after  our  Joshua  has  led  us  into  the  Land  of 
Promise.  The  word  came,  '  Dr.  Niles  is  dead! '  How  un- 
like God's  language.  Such  words  may  be  true  in  Ekron, 
but  they  should  not  be  used  by  those  dwelling  in  Jerusalem. 
Your  dear  husband  could  not  die.     Jesus  said,  *  Whosoever 

[78] 


Q^cmoxt  of  l^cntp  Ctibjarb  l^ilc^ 

believeth  in  Me  shall  never  die.'  I  read  in  the  paper  they 
held  a  funeral!     Surely  not  for  such  as  he. 

"  I  am  sure  you  joined  with  the  angels  in  a  glorious  coro- 
nation ceremony.  They  had  finished  his  crown  above  and 
he  was  called  from  you  and  all  who  loved  him  so  to  wear 
his  crown.  But  though  we  rejoice  in  his  immortal  glory, 
how  we  miss  his  manly  presence,  the  wise  and  loving  coun- 
sel, and  the  strong,  cheery  words  he  gave  so  generously. 

"  You  know  the  Father  so  well  I  am  sure  you  are  hiding 
in  Him  all  the  time,  and  so  are  at  rest  and  peace.  I  know 
you  will  want  to  hear  poems  of  victory  and  songs  of  rejoic- 
ing instead  of  dirges.  For  twenty-two  years  he  was  my 
loving  counsellor,  my  wise  and  sympathetic  friend. 

"  At  Atlantic  City  last  summer  he  was  the  same  cordial, 
courteous  brother  he  ever  was  in  York.  We  shall  not  soon 
see  his  like.  How  fortunate  I  was  to  have  been  blessed 
these  years  with  his  friendship." 

From  Rev.  Dr.  J.  B.  Rendall,  Lincoln  University : 

"  My  thoughts  are  turned  to  a  *  manse  '  in  York.  It  has 
been  one  of  the  ideal  homes  it  has  been  my  privilege  to  visit. 
An  inspiration  and  a  blessing  to  all  who  have  feJt  the  influ- 
ence streaming  from  it.  Surely  it  has  made  many  other 
homes  happier,  brighter,  better,  just  to  have  seen  how  two 
loving  hearts  can,  by  sharing,  multiply  the  joy  and  mitigate 
the  sorrows  of  life. 

"  I  know  it  is  a  picture  painted  not  in  oil  or  on  canvas 
and  hung  on  the  walls  of  other  homes,  but  in  more  endur- 
ing and  brighter  colors  on  the  walls  of  memory  in  many  a 
human  heart. 

"  We  thank  God  that  He  spared  your  true,  tender,  noble 
husband  so  long;  that  He  had  owned  him  so  richly  and  roy- 
ally, and  that  He  filled  his  life  with  such  large  measures  of 

[79] 


St^emoir  of  J^citrp  CtituartJ  ^ilt^ 

usefulness  and  happiness.  Not  a  place  that  he  did  not 
adorn.  How  courtly  and  gracious  at  home,.  How  princely 
in  the  pulpit.  How  wise  and  welcome  his  counsels  in  all 
positions  of  trust,  and  in  none  more  than  in  this  '  school  of 
the  prophets.' 

"  A  life  full  of  nobility  and  crowned  with  honor  has  passed 
into  spheres  of  greater  service.  By  and  by,  you,  and  we  all 
who  loved  him,  will  again  meet  and  greet  him;  and  these 
are  consolations  in  the  pain  of  parting.  Heartfelt  sympathy 
with  the  stricken  sons  in  the  loss  of  such  a  father." 

From  Rev.  Dr.  Maltbie  D.  Babcock,  New  York: 

"  Dear  Mrs.  Niles: 

"  I  do  not  know  how  you  and  Dr.  Niles  had  wished  it 
about  who  should  go  first,  but  we  know  now  how  God 
thought  best.  It  must  be  better  that  you  should  live  here 
without  him  than  the  other  way.  How  he  loved  you,  does, 
and  will  forever! 

"  Some  time  the  enclosed  may  be  a  little  comfort. 

"  Why  be  afraid  of  Death  ?     As  though  your  life  were  breath  ! 
Death  but  anoints  your  eyes  with  clay.     O  !  glad  surprise  ! 

Why  should  you  be  forlorn  ?     Death  only  husks  the  corn. 
Why  should  you  fear  to  meet  the  Thresher  of  the  wheat  ? 

Is  sleep  a  thing  to  dread  ?     Yet  sleeping  you  are  dead 
'Till  you  awake  and  rise,  here,  or  beyond  the  skies. 

Why  should  it  be  a  wrench  to  leave  your  wooden  bench  ? 
Why  not  with  happy  shout  run  home  when  school  is  out  ? 

The  dear  ones  left  behind!     O  foolish  one  and  blind, 
A  day,  and  you  will  meet,  a  night,  and  you  will  greet ! 
[80] 


This  is  the  death  of  Death,  to  breathe  away  a  breath 
And  know  the  end  of  strife,  and  taste  the  deathless  life, 

And  joy  without  a  fear,  and  smile  without  a  tear, 
And  work,  nor  care  to  rest,  and  find  the  last  the  best." 

"  Mrs.  Babcock  joins  me  in  loving  thoughts  and  happy 
hopes. 

"  Ever  your  friend, 

"  Maltbie  D.  Babcock." 
[Died  in  Naples,  May  i8,  1901.] 

One  year  from  the  day  this  busy  minister  turned  from  his 
rush  of  duties  and  engagements  to  draw  a  cup  of  cold  water 
to  hold  to  widowed  lips,  his  own  idolized  wife  passed  under 
the  eclipse  of  widowhood  and  needed  the  same  ministering. 

From  T.  L.  Cuyler,  D.D.,  Brooklyn: 

"  I  have  been  reading  of  the.  last  honors  paid  to  your  be- 
loved husband  and  my  beloved  brother,  Dr.  Niles. 

"  He  is  one  of  the  few  survivors  whom  I  knew  in  the 
student  days  at  Princeton  Seminary.  Every  ye^r  increased 
my  admiration  and  affection  for  him. 

"  The  strongest  proof  of  his  rare  power  as  a  preacher  and 
a  pastor  and  of  his  noble  qualities  as  a  Christian  was  that  he 
held  his  place  in  the  hearts  of  his  loving  flock  and  of  all  the 
people  of  York  for  more  than  a  whole  generation.  No  one 
thought  of  York  without  thinking  of  Henry  E.  Niles. 

"  He  was  the  ideal  of  a  faithful,  devoted  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ,  true  to  his  Master's  Word  and  his  Master's  work. 
What  a  blessed  memory  for  you  and  his  sons.  What  a  rich 
inheritance  is  his  honored  name. 

"  I  can  mingle  my  congratulations  with  condolence. 
Thank  God  for  him!     Thank  Him  for  sparing  your  precious 

[81] 


Sl^ettioii:  of  i^enrp  €t»Ujarti  l^ile^ 

husband  so  long  and  crowning  his  glorious  work  with  such 
manifold  blessings. 

"  The  hour  of  reunion  is  not  far  off.  You  can  sweetly 
say, 

"  Each  minute  is  a  swift  degree 
And  every  hour  a  step  towards  thee." 

"  Accept  these  few  honest  words  of  tribute  from  the  heart 
of  his  and  your  brother  in  Christ  Jesus." 

From  Rev.  Dr.  James  A.  Worden,  Philadelphia: — 

"  My  dear  friend  in  sorrow: 

"  May  the  Father  of  all  consolation  be  with  you  now. 
There  has  gone  from  your  heart  and  from  your  home  one 
of  the  noblest  ministers  of  Christ  that  ever  breathed.  Earth 
is  poorer  and  Heaven  is  richer,  and  never  again  will  this 
earth  be  to  you  what  it  was  while  he  breathed  this  air. 

"  The  present  Christ,  the  indwelling  Comforter,  and  the 
exceeding  great  and  precious  promises  of  His  Word  is  the 
only  consolation  I  can  bring.  How  I  loved,  honored,  and 
revered  your  departed  one. 

"  May  God  in  His  infinite  mercy  take  care  of  that  church 
which  is  your  beloved  husband's  best  and  enduring  monu- 
ment." 

From  Charles  P.  Arnold,  Angelica,  N.  Y.: 

"  When  I  saw  in  the  Tribune  that  my  early  pastor  had 
gone  home,  such  happy  memories  flooded  my  soul!  Ah, 
those  golden  days  of  life!  Yes!  and  the  golden  age  of  our 
church.  I  saw  again  our  young  minister  in  that  old  church 
where  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman  and  Miss  Narcissa  Purtus  were 
married  on  the  eve  of  their  starting  on  the  mission  that  has 
made  their  names  famous  and  honored  through  all  the 

world. 

[82] 


a^emoir  of  J^cnrp  €tiixjarti  l^ilc^ 

"  I  saw  your  husband  again  planning  for  and  building  the 
new  church.  I  saw  him  in  all  his  youthful  promise  at  the 
dedication  in  the  afternoon,  the  sunbeams  stealing  through 
the  west  windows,  resting  on  the  prisms  of  those  beautiful 
chandeliers  and  hurrying  on  to  flit  and  dance  on  those  rich 
damask  curtains  of  the  pulpit.  How  admirable  the  ar- 
rangement! Strangers  always  expressed  their  delight  at 
the  artistic  effect — and  it  was  his!  I  wonder  if  anyone  else 
ever  saw  or  dreamed  of  a  design  so  beautiful  and  fitting  for 
a  village  church? 

"  Do  you  remember  those  morning  gatherings  for  prayer 
in  the  cosey  lecture-room?  We  boys  and  the  girls  began 
our  day  there  while  on  our  way  to  school.  Boys  and 
girls  do  not  go  to  prayer-meetings  at  everyone's  beck,  espe- 
cially so  early  in  the  morning.  They  crowded  the  room  for 
him. 

"  When  he  was  here  all  the  seats  in  the  church  were  filled 
with  attentive  worshippers.  The  Allegheny  hills  and  beau- 
tiful Angelica  vale  remain,  and  the  church  that  you  and  he 
built,  and  a  few  of  the  people.  His  influence.,  too,  and  his 
work  remain  in  lives  here,  and  in  the  lives  of  others  moving 
in  wider  spheres. 

"  What  a  wonderful  thing  that  the  result  of  a  good, 
strong  Christian  life  is  so  enduring.  What  a  blessed  thing 
that  its  memory  is  so  cheering  and  inspiring." 

From  the  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Lowrie,  D.D.,  Philadelphia: 

"  I  beg  the  privilege  of  expressing  to  you  and  your  family 
my  sorrow  at  the  death  of  your  beloved  and  honored  hus- 
band. I  may  speak  also  particularly  for  his  fellow-members 
of  the  Board  of  Relief. 

"  We  feel  that  we  have  sustained  a  severe  loss  in  what 
concerns  the  administration  of  that  sacred  trust,  for  Dr. 

[83] 


Niles  has  been  very  wise  in  counsel  and  very  helpful  by  rea- 
son of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  Church 
at  large. 

"  But  we  most  keenly  feel  the  grief  of  the  thought  '  that 
we  shall  see  his  face  no  more.'  You  will  not  fail  to  bless 
God  for  so  much  love  and  happiness  that  have  been  yours  so 
long,  but  that  God  has  now  taken  away." 

From  the  Rev.  Dr.  George  B.  Stewart,  Auburn  Theological 
Seminary: 

"  As  I  have  been  away  I  have  just  heard  of  your  sore 
bereavement  and  the  great  loss  the  Church  has  sustained 
in  the  calling  home  of  dear  Dr.  Niles.  I  hasten  to  send  you 
my  heartfelt  sympathy  in  this  hour  of  darkness.  It  is  truly 
a  great  affliction  and  one  which  falls  heaviest  on  you, 
though  the  whole  Church  feels  the  loss. 

"  A  good  man  has  gone  home  and  the  earth  is  poorer.  I 
love.d  him  and  I  sorrow  with  you." 

From  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  W.  Rogan,  Flemington,  N.  J.: 

'*  I  esteem  it  an  honor  and  a  privilege  to  have  known 
your  husband  and  to  have  had  the  right  to  call  him  friend. 

"  As  I  write  the  memory  comes  to  me  of  our  pleasant  in- 
tercourse at  Saratoga,  our  enjoyment  together  of  the 
World's  Fair  in  Chicago,  visits  in  Baltimore,  and  exchanges, 
games  of  croquet,  trip  down  the  Hudson,  and  other  scenes 
enjoyed  together. 

"  I  had  hoped  he  would  be  one  of  our  next  party  to 
Europe,  as  I  knew  he  was  planning  the  trip.  Now  he  has 
gone  forever  to  that  other  shore. 

"  I  see  from  the  paper  he  was  more  than  thirty  years  my 
senior,  but  I  would  never  have  dreamed  it.  To  all  intejits 
and  purposes  I  ever  found  him  my  own  age,  in  thoughts  and 

[84] 


^txnmt  of  IJcnrp  €titoarti  ^i\t^ 

feelings.  Dr.  Henry  E.  Niles  was  a  man  who  could  never 
grow  old,  because  he  kept  young  in  heart  and  young  in  the 
keenness  and  freshness  of  his  sympathies  for  those  around 
him  and  for  what  was  transpiring  in  God's  world, 

"  As  I  write  these  things  I  am  aware  of  the  fact  that  they 
will  be  told  over  to  you  again  and  again,  for  your  husband 
was  a  man  who  must  have  had  a  host  of  friends.  He  was 
ever  so  genial,  so  cordial,  so  kind-hearted,  so  courteous,  so 
thoughtful  for  others,  that  he  inevitably  attracted  men  to 
him. 

"  He  was  ever  ready  to  say  a  hearty,  kind  word  of  another 
brother's  sermon  and  of  the  brother  himself.  I  do  not  re- 
member ever  hearing  him  speak  ill  of  anyone,  though  he 
was  a  man  of  such  strong,  decided  convictions,  and  not  afraid 
to  speak  them  out.  But  his  broad  Christ-like  spirit  ever 
pervaded  all  he  did. 

"  I  am  glad  and  grateiul  that  our  pathways  crossed  in  life, 
and  that  it  was  my  privilege  to  know  him  so  intimately.  I 
dare  not  think  how  dark  and  empty  this  world  is  to  you  now. 
Was  ever  so  devoted  and  happy  a  husband? 

"  The  star  of  Dr.  Niles's  life  has  been  removed  from  these 
lower  skies;  but  he  has  left  his  light  behind  him  and — best 
of  all — the  star  is  not  blotted  out.  It  has  only  seemed  to 
sink,  but  to  rise  and  shine  in  other  spheres. 

*  Were  a  star  quenched  on  high, 
For  ages  would  its  light, 
Still   travelling  downward  from   the  sky, 
Shine  on  our  mortal  sight. 

So  when  a  great  man  dies, 

For  years  beyond  our  ken. 

The  light  he  leaves  behind  him  lies 

Upon  the  paths  of  men.'  " 

[85] 


From  the  Rev.  T.  B.  Nichols,  Germantown,  Pa.: 
"  Dr.  Niles  was  so  much  to  me  in  the  pulpit  and  in  private 

intercourse,  during  the  two  years  I  was  in  the  Y.  C.  I.,  that 

I  cannot  refrain  from  bearing  witness  to  my  own  sense  of 

loss. 

"  It  will  be  said  of  him  as  of  Barnabas,  '  He  was  a  good 

man  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of  faith.'     His  influence 

will  abide." 

I 


\86] 


CHAPTER    VII 

Sermons 

THE  three  sermons  here  printed  have  been  selected 
out  of  the  1,200  which  he  left  behind,  as  typical  of 
his  style,  thought,  theology,  and  catholicity. 
The  sermon  on  "  Meditation  "  was  preached  in  one  form 
and  another  twenty-five  times,  and  greatly  changed  with 
each  repetition. 

The  last  sermon  given  was  one  of  the  last  he  wrote. 
How  full  of  special  significance  his  words  of  warning  and 
exhortation,  as,  reading  them  now,  we  realize  that  his  work 
was  well-nigh  ended,  his  reward  to  be  entered  into  with  the 
New  Year! 


[87] 


Eph.  iv.  1 6  :  *'  From  whom  the  whole  body  fitly  joined 
together  and  compacted  by  that  which  every  joint  supplieth^ 
according  to  the  effectual  working  in  the  measure  of  every 
part,  maketh  increase  of  the  body  unto  the  edifying  of  itself 
in  love" 

The  Apostle  is  speaking  in  this  chapter  of  the  constitu- 
tion and  order  of  the  Christian  Church  and  of  the  mutual 
relations  and  duties  of  those  who  are  connected  with  it. 
However  imperfectly  the  science  of  anatomy  may  have  been 
understood  in  his  time,  certain  it  is  that  under  guidance 
of  inspiration  he  has  here  drawn  from  it  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  instructive  figures  by  which  to  illustrate 
spiritual  truth.  In  this  animal  body  with  which  we  are  en- 
dowed, what  a  number  of  distinct  parts  are  "  joined  together 
and  compacted  "  for  securing  the  greatest  harmony  and 
efficiency.  Two  hundred  and  sixty-three  bones  in  the  hu- 
man frame,  i8o  joints,  several  hundreds  of  muscles;  so 
numerous  the  blood-vessels  that  you  cannot  perforate  the 
skin  anywhere  without  piercing  one,  so  minute  the  ramifica- 
tions of  the  nerves  that  wherever  the  point  of  a  needle  pene- 
trates it  touches  one,  and  so  multiplied  the  absorbents  that 
millions  of  them  are  employed  in  taking  up  the  chyme  of  the 
food  and  conveying  it  to  the  veins.  How  different  in  struct- 
ure and  function  are  the  various  organs,  the  hands  and  the 
feet,  the  stomach  and  the  lungs,  the  heart  and  the  liver,  the 
eye  and  the  ear,  the  nose  and  the  mouth!  How  unlike  are 
the  muscles  and  the  arteries,  the  nerves  and  the  veins,  the 
bile  and  the  chyle!  Yet  no  part  is  useless,  none  is  idle,  none 
to  be  overlooked.  Connected  with  the  head,  where,  as  if 
enthroned  in  eminent  security,  the  brain  exercises  regal 
functions  and  sends  out  vitalizing  influence,  these  solids  and 
liquids  complete  an  organism  which  has  been  for  ages  the 

[88] 


wonder  of  science  and  often  has  awed  arrested  skepticism 
into  reverence! 

"  The  undevout  astronomer,"  says  a  familiar  adage,  "  is 
mad."  But  with  equal  propriety  may  it  be  said,  "  No  one 
can  study  the  delicate,  complicated,  and  unequalled  mechan- 
ism of  the  human  frame  without  recognition  of  an  Infinite 
Creator,  unless  such  an  undevout  anatomist  be  mad!  "  "  I 
will  praise  Thee,"  exclaims  the  Psalmist,  "  for  I  am  fearfully 
and  wonderfully  made!  Marvellous  are  Thy  works,  and 
that  my  soul  knoweth  right  well !  "  And  now,  the  Apostle's 
illustration  is,  that  as  the  human  body  is  made  up  of  various 
parts,  compactly  joined  together,  and  is  nourished  and  in- 
creased by  the  effectual  working  of  every  part,  according  to 
its  measure  or  power,  so  in  the  Church  of  Christ  there  are 
different  officers  and  members,  with  every  variety  of  gifts 
and  influence,  yet  closely  connected  with  one  another,  and 
all  united  to  Christ,  their  common  head! 

United  to  Him,  "  in  whom  dwelleth  all  the  fulness  of  the 
Godhead  bodily,"  in  whom  are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wis- 
dom and  knowledge,  by  whom  were  all  things  created  that 
are  in  Heaven  and  that  are  in  earth,  visible  and  invisible, 
whether  they  be  thrones  or  dominions,  principalities  or  pow- 
ers, all  things  were  created  by  Him  and  for  Him.  And  He 
is  before  all  things,  and  by  Him  all  things  consist.  And  He 
is  the  Head  of  the  body,  the  Church  Head  of  that  mystical 
organism  which  is  made  up  of  saints  on  earth  and  in  Heaven ; 
yea,  and  of  all  who  shall  hereafter  live  and  believe  on  His 
name!  The  true  Church  does  not  consist  of  any  one  order 
or  denomination  of  Christian  people,  but  of  those  in  every 
age  and  clime  who  belong  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  ac- 
cording to  His  word.  And  what  a  mighty  multitude  they 
will  form,  from  Abel,  the  first  martyr,  down  to  the  last  pol- 
ished jewel  that  shall  be  set  to  sparkle  in  the  Redeemer's 

[89] 


Sr^cmoir  of  J^enrp  Ctitoarti  ^i\t^ 

crown!  "  Who  can  count  the  dust  of  Jacob  or  the  number 
of  the  fourth  part  of  Israel!  "  Who  can  estimate  that  re- 
deemed company  which  shall  be  gathered  out  of  all  nations, 
countless  as  the  atoms  that  float  in  a  summer's  sky,  as  the 
drops  that  fall  in  a  summer's  shower,  as  the  vapors  that  rise 
on  a  sun-illumined  earth,  as  the  stars  that  sparkle  in  the 
firmament  of  heaven! 

From  Him,  their  Infinite  Head,  they  shall  derive  life  and 
nourishment,  strength  and  vigor,  wisdcm  and  righteous- 
ness, sanctification  and  redemption.  United  by  faith  to 
Him,  they  shall  partake  of  His  fulness  and  be  sharers  of  His 
glory.  United  closely  to  each  other,  they  shall  contribute 
"  according  to  the  effectual  working  in  the  measure  of  every 
part  "  to  each  other's  growth  and  welfare. 

At  present  we  see  only  dim  foreshadowings  of  such  perfec- 
tion; for  the  body  is  yet  incomplete.  Part  of  the  members 
are  in  Heaven,  part  in  this  world,  and  part  yet  to  be  born. 
And  even  of  those  now  on  earth  some  have  not  yet  been 
"  quickened  "  from  spiritual  death.  Some  are  just  waking 
into  life,  some  have  had  a  little  experience,  and  some  are 
further  advanced,  but  none  are  perfect !  None  yet  wear  their 
singing-robes,  nor  wave  the  palms  of  victory,  nor  are 
crowned  with  immortal  glory.  None  appreciate,  as  they 
will  hereafter  do,  the  dignity  of  their  privilege,  nor  their  obli- 
gations for  redeeming  mercy,  nor  what  manner  of  persons 
they  ought  to  be  in  all  holy  conversation  and  godliness!  " 

Nevertheless,  even  in  this  imperfect  condition  of  the 
Church,  may  we  not  discern  clear  prophecies  of  what  her 
final  glory  is  yet  to  be?  May  we  not  see  good  reason  why 
no  member  should  be  regarded  as  useless  or  should  remain 
idle  and  unemployed?  We  see  ministers  variously  gifted, 
church  officers  variously  endowed,  and  private  members  with 
their  different  qualifications  and  spheres  of  influence.     Some 

[90] 


are  logical  in  argument  and  others  eloquent  in  speech.  Some 
mighty  in  interpretation  of  Scripture  and  others  in  the  analy- 
sis of  Christian  experience.  Some  are  eminent  in  prayer  and 
others  in  active  labors.  Some  are  burning  with  zeal  for  pub- 
lic usefulness,  and  others,  like  the  quiet  sunbeams  or  silent 
dew,  gently  diffuse  their  blessed  influence  in  more  retired 
circles.  Some  are  educated  and  ready  to  teach.  Others 
ignorant  and  glad  to  be  taught.  Some  affluent  and  willing 
to  give,  others  needy  and  thankful  to  receive.  Some  bold 
and  fitted  to  lead,  others  timid  and  anxious  to  be  led.  Some 
bounding  with  hope  and  others  drooping  with  fear.  Some 
fitted  for  one  station  and  others  for  another.  But  who  shall 
say  that  they  all  are  not  needed,  each  in  his  appropriate 
place,  doing  his  appropriate  work,  and  helping  on  the  com- 
mon cause?  And,  if  each  professing  Christian  were  actually 
and  experimentally  one,  animated  with  regenerate  disposi- 
tions, and  striving  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  to  do  his  whole  work; 
if,  in  his  appointed  place,  he  were  so  manifestly  living  in 
union  with  Christ,  the  Head,  that  all  could  take  knowledge 
of  him,  then  how  evident  Avould  be  the  importance  of  each 
one! 

Then  would  it  appear,  that  though  this  spiritual  body  is 
"  not  one  member  but  many,"  yet  that  each  member  has  his 
own  office,  and  is  essential  to  the  perfection  of  the  whole! 
That  "  the  eye  cannot  say  to  the  ear,  I  have  no  need  of  thee 
nor  the  hand  to  the  foot,  I  have  no  need  of  you."  Nay, 
further,  that  those  members  of  the  body  which  seem  to  be 
more  feeble;  those  Christians  who  are  most  retiring  and  con- 
cealed from  public  gaze;  the  humble,  the  meek,  and  the  pray- 
erful, those  who  are  much  confined  by  sickness  and  infirmi- 
ties, but  who  bear  the  interests  of  Zion  on  their  hearts,  and 
abound  in  intercession  for  her  advancement,  like  the  lungs 
and  heart  and  brain  of  the  phvsical  body,  are  even  more 

[91] 


necessary  than  the  comely  parts  which  are  prominent  and 
visible ! 

Were  such  the  spiritual  condition  of  Christians,  how  soon 
would  the  importance  of  each  one  be  recognized!  What 
anxiety  would  be  felt  if  his  pew  was  empty  for  a  single  Sab- 
bath! 

How  would  his  absence  from  the  prayer-meeting  be 
mourned,  from  the  Sabbath-school,  and  from  the  scene  of 
associated  duty!  How  would  his  removal  be  deplored,  his 
death  lamented,  his  memory  cherished,  and  his  name  be  held 
in  sacred  remembrance!  But  now,  alas!  in  each  local 
church  and  throughout  the  entire  visible  body,  how  imper- 
fectly is  the  vital  power  yet  exhibited!  Though  there  be 
some  life  and  warmth  apparent,  how  many  paralytic  arms, 
and  halting  feet,  and  deafened  ears,  and  bleared  eyeballs  are 
also  visible.  How  much  torpidity  and  imperfect  action! 
What  poor  digestion  of  the  truth!  What  partial  assimila- 
tion! How  little  growth  of  bone  and  muscle,  and  all  that 
constitutes  moral  stability,  promptness,  and  efficiency!  Ah, 
these  weak,  dyspeptic  organs!  These  rheumatic,  shrunken, 
powerless  limbs.  With  what  heavy  burden  do  they  weigh 
down  and  impede  the  action  of  others  that  may  be  full  of 
life!  Oh!  that  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit  might  be  felt 
upon  them!  That  He  who  could  breathe  upon  the  dry 
bones  seen  by  Ezekiel,  and  cause  those  grim  and  ghastly 
skeletons  to  stand  forth  a  marshalled  army  of  living  men, 
might  with  his  heavenly  breath  impart  vitality  and  power  to 
every  branch  and  every  member  of  the  visible  Church !  O 
that  throughout  the  Church  the  heavenly  influence  might  be 
felt,  quickening  that  which  is  dead,  warming  that  which  is 
cold,  strengthening  that  which  is  feeble,  stimulating  that 
which  is  torpid,  uniting  all  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  sym- 
pathy, and  guiding  all  to  labors  of  Christian  love.    Then, 

[92] 


a^cmoir  of  i^cnrp  CDtoarti  l^iic^ 

whatever  might  be  done  with  reference  to  organic  union 
between  different  branches  and  different  denominations; 
results  for  which  so  many  are  praying  and  hoping;  what  is 
far  better,  spiritual  union,  would  certainly  be  more  fully 
realized.  Then  would  the  whole  body  of  Christ,  the  great 
visible  Church,  appear  as  one,  though  with  many  parts! 
Then  would  be  no  more  jealousies,  nor  brooding  suspicions, 
nor  denominational  prejudices,  nor  sectarian  exclusiveness, 
but  with  fraternal  harmony  would  each  division  of  the 
Church  and  each  individual  be  contributing  to  the  moral 
force  and  beauty  of  the  whole. 

Then  in  every  station  of  life  would  be  found  a  larger  num- 
ber of  stalwart  wrestlers  at  the  throne  of  grace,  like  Daniel, 
and  Bradford,  and  Payson,  who  should  contribute  immeas- 
urably by  their  prayers  for  the  advancement  of  the  Redeem- 
er's cause.  Others  would  be  especially  noted  for  their  godly 
example  and  affectionate  devotion,  like  John  the  Beloved, 
and  Melanchthon  and  McCheyne,  and  others  for  their  pa- 
tient continuance  in  welldoing,  like  Stephen  and  the  Wesleys 
and  Judson  and  Scudder.  Others  again  would  contribute 
especially  by  the  force  of  their  logic  and  the  wealth  of  their 
instruction,  like  Paul  and  Butler  and  Edwards.  Others  by 
a  scholarly  display  of  the  Christian  "  evidences,"  like  Paley 
and  Hopkins  and  Wayland.  Others  by  their  fearless  de- 
nunciation of  error,  like  Nathan  the  Prophet  and  John  Knox 
and  Martin  Luther.  Others  by  the  eloquence  of  their 
preaching,  like  Whitefield  and  Guthrie  and  Spurgeon. 
Others,  like  Milton  and  Heber  and  Watts,  by  their  poetic 
inspirations,  exponents  of  the  noblest  thought  and  most 
fervent  piety  of  the  Church. 

And  again  others  would  contribute  by  their  official  pre- 
rogative to  the  establishment  of  Christian  institutions. 
Others  by  the  cheerful  consecration  of  their  property  to 

[93] 


Christ  in  open-handed  benevolence.  Others  by  dedicating 
themselves  to  the  work  of  missions.  And,  better  still,  be- 
cause more  numerous  and  everywhere  at  work — such  as  by 
God's  grace  may  be  raised  up  in  every  city  and  town  and 
hamlet  and  home — the  multitude  of  private  Christians  who 
shall  occupy  well  their  several  stations,  and  in  the  scenes  of 
ordinary  life  make  manifest  the  spirit  of  Jesus.  Men  who 
shall  carry  their  religion  with  them  into  the  circles  of  daily 
business,  into  politics  and  social  life  wherever  they  are  called 
to  move.  Women,  too,  young  and  old,  rich  and  poor,  who 
shall  show  forth  the  praises  of  their  Lord.  Women  like 
Mary  Mother,  Salome,  Susannah  Wesley,  Mrs.  Booth,  Fran- 
ces Willard,  and  hosts  of  mothers  and  sisters  and  daughters 
all  around  us  who  are  making  manifest  how  pure,  gentle, 
self-effacing,  and  benignant  Christian  women  can  be. 

Thus  in  the  golden  age  of  the  Church  will  all  the  mem- 
bers be  at  work,  some  in  one  way,  and  some  in  another,  ac- 
cording to  their  several  circumstances  and  abilities,  but  each 
contributing,  as  is  most  fitting,  to  the  life  and  development 
and  growing  strength  of  the  mystical  body  of  which  Christ 
is  the  living  head. 

And  now  the  text  declares  what  shall  be  the  result  of 
such  co-operative  and  consecrated  effort:  "  Increase  of  the 
body  unto  the  edifying  of  itself  in  love." 

Just  as  the  animal  structure  grows  when  there  is  health- 
ful union  of  all  parts  with  the  head  and  reciprocal  communi- 
cation with  the  different  parts,  so  it  is  in  the  spiritual  body! 
United  by  faith  to  Christ,  the  source  of  all  wisdom  and  grace, 
believers  must  also  be  united  to  each  other  in  the  bonds  of 
Christian  affection,  sympathizing  with,  comforting  and 
strengthening  one  another,  and  so  growing  up  together 
towards  the  "  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ." 

[94] 


Jlti^cmoir  of  l^cnrp  €titoarli  i^ilc^ 

In  nature  there  is  such  a  law  of  interdependence  and  growth. 
And  the  God  of  Nature  is  Head  of  the  Church.  He  has  ap- 
pointed her  component  parts,  with  their  various  relations 
and  offices.  And  He  has  determined  that  His  Church  shall 
grow,  her  cords  be  lengthened,  her  stakes  strengthened,  and 
all  her  interests  advanced.  Truth  shall  conquer  error,  light 
shall  dispel  darkness,  order  shall  prevail  over  confusion,  and 
love  shall  lay  her  olive  branch  upon  the  grave  of  buried  hate! 
As  in  His  earthly  ministry  Christ  laid  all  nature  under 
tribute  to  His  purpose,  made  the  lilies  which  breathe  their 
fragrance  in  the  summer  air,  the  harvest  field  with  its  golden 
sheaves,  the  birds  providing  for  their  young,  the  forests  with 
their  pillared  arches  and  cathedral  anthems,  the  mountains 
with  their  solemn  shadows  and  hoary  cliffs,  and  the  ocean 
with  its  chimes  of  resounding  billows,  all  sources  of  illustra- 
tion for  spiritual  truth;  so,  in  the  accomplishment  of  His 
future  purposes  with  reference  to  the  Church,  which  is  His 
body,  will  He  make  all  things  subservient  to  His  ends,  until 
the  stars  in  their  courses,  the  winds  in  their  currents,  the 
ocean  with  its  tides;  until  science  with  its  discoveries,  and  in- 
vention with  its  novelties,  and  art  with  its  wondrous  achieve- 
ments; until  all  the  powers  of  nature,  all  the  energies  of  the 
human  mind,  and  all  the  gushing  affections  of  the  human 
heart,  shall  be  united  to  promote  the  symmetry  and  beauty 
and  power  of  the  Redeemed  Church. 

Whether  this  glorious  consummation  be  destined  to  ap- 
proach the  world  by  the  same  gradual  and  apparently  tardy 
steps  as  in  days  that  are  past,  or  whether  the  Great  Head 
of  the  Church  is  preparing  to  bring  about  more  rapidly  the 
final  result,  the  practical  lessons  are  very  plain. 

1st.  That  no  member  of  the  Church  should  regard  him- 
self, or  be  regarded  by  others,  as  of  little  account.     Old  or 

[95] 


St^mioir  of  I^enrp  €titoarb  ^ilc^ 

young,  male  or  female,  rich  or  poor,  learned  or  illiterate, 
every  true  Christian  holds  an  important  place  in  Christ's 
plans,  and  has  an  important  work  to  do  in  His  service. 

Everyone,  therefore,  should  be  in  his  or  her  place,  like 
the  heart,  the  lungs,  the  eye  or  the  hand,  the  minutest  nerve 
or  the  smallest  blood-vessel,  else  there  must  be  derangement 
and  imperfect  service.  The  humblest  member  has  no  more 
right  to  be  unemployed  than  the  most  conspicuous  and 
prominent.  If  he  withhold  his  sympathies,  his  prayers,  his 
contributions,  his  personal  influence,  and  his  active  efforts — 
anything  which  he  is  appointed  and  fitted  to  give,  then  does 
he  by  so  much  destroy  the  healthful  action  of  this  spiritual 
body  and  introduce  paralysis  and  inefficiency! 

Secondly.  Union  in  the  Church  is  absolutely  necessary 
for  her  prosperity;  union  in  love.  Like  the  human  system, 
we  have  seen  that  the  body  of  Christ  is  made  up  of  various 
materials,  differing  greatly  from  each  other,  but  love  is  the 
bond  of  perfectness  by  which  all  the  parts  may  be  closely 
conjoined  and  made  to  co-operate  in  beautiful  harmony. 
Where  envy  and  strife  are  there  are  confusion  and  every  evil 
work,  but  where  Christian  charity  prevails  there  peace  and 
prosperity  are  ensured. 

Like  oil  upon  machinery,  so  is  love  between  the  different 
members  of  Christ's  body.  To  the  feet  of  love  soft  and 
flowery  is  the  path  which  leads  to  a  brother's  house  where 
Christian  communion  may  be  enjoyed  or  Christian  kindness 
bestowed.  To  the  hand  of  love  soft  is  the  palm  of  one  who 
has  touched  even  the  hem  of  Jesus's  garment!  To  the  eye 
of  love  beautiful  is  the  countenance  of  one  who  bears  the 
likeness  of  Jesus!  To  the  ear  of  love  musical  are  the  tones 
of  one  who  is  ready  to  speak  of  Jesus,  and  to  the  scent  of 
love  refreshing  is  the  smell  of  one  who  has  been  with  Jesus 
to  the  Mountain  of  Myrrh  and  to  the  Hill  of  Frankincense! 

[96] 


Then  let  us  strive  for  greater  nearness  to  Jesus,  and  to  be 
more  possessed  with  the  spirit  of  Jesus.  So  shall  we,  as 
parts  of  His  mystical  body,  be  more  consciously  united  to 
all  that  are  His. 

Our  hopes,  our  fears,  our  joys,  our  aims,  would  be  more 
fully  harmonized  and  our  utmost  energies  be  ready  to  co- 
operate in  every  good  work.  So  while  gaining  increasing 
evidence  of  personal  salvation  we  would  each  be  con- 
tributing to  give  to  the  world  a  deeper  impression  of  the 
truth  and  loveliness  of  Christianity. 

The  Church  would  so  convince  all  that  the  religion  of 
love  is  an  emanation  from  the  skies,  an  exotic  on  these  cold, 
bleak  shores  of  time,  its  origin  celestial,  its  power  irresistible, 
its  final  triumph  universal. 

Is  not  this  the  acme  of  human  privilege;  to  grow  up  into 
Him  in  all  things  who  is  the  Head  even  Christ,  from  whom 
the  whole  body  fitly  joined  together  and  compacted  by  that 
which  every  joint  supplieth,  according  to  the  effectual  work- 
ing in  the  measure  of  every  part,  maketh  increase  of  the  body 
unto  the  edifying  of  itself  in  love? 


[97] 


sr^cmoir  of  i^mrp  <!Btitdarti  l^ilc^ 


Psalm  civ.j^:  "My  meditation  of  Him  shall  he  sweet. 
I  will  be  glad  in  the  Lord." 

The  age  in  which  we  live  is  one  of  activity  rather  than  of 
thoughtfulness.  It  is  easier  to  act  than  to  think,  much 
easier  to  be  taken  up  with  the  whirl  and  excitement  of  the 
nineteenth  century  occupations  than  in  quietness  and  care- 
fulness to  fix  the  mind  on  the  truth  of  philosophy  and  re- 
ligion. 

But  it  is  thought  that  moves  the  world,  and  men  of 
thought  are  they  on  whom  the  world's  progress  really  de- 
pends. Horace  Greeley  once  said,  "  For  forty  years  I  have 
been  trying  to  find  time  to  go  a-fishing,  but  I  have  not  found 
;it  yet!  "  In  that  he  represented  the  spirit  of  our  age.  He 
was  the  type  of  a  large  class  of  busy  workers,  hurried  along 
under  constant  pressure,  with  no  opportunities  for  needful 
recreation! 

As  a  people,  Americans  are  in  altogether  too  much  haste. 
Thirty,  forty,  fifty  miles  an  hour  is  not  favorable  for  long 
inspirations  and  good  digestion.  The  patriarchs  dwelled  in 
tents  and  travelled  on  foot,  or  with  mules  and  camels,  but 
we  wonder  how  they  could  have  endured  to  make  only  six 
miles  an  hour! 

With  them  the  chief  end  of  life  was  not  to  go  ahead!  In 
our  day  it  is  different,  when  so  much  energy  seems  spent  in 
"  catching  trains,"  in  hurrying  through  whatever  is  present 
and  possible,  for  the  sake  of  reaching  some  prizes  in  the 
future,  which  at  best  are  contingent  and  doubtful!  On  the 
score  of  physical  health  this  must  be  a  pernicious  habit.  Ob- 
servant physicians  tell  us  that  such  railway  style  of  living 
causes  hurtful  strain  upon  all  the  faculties,  especially  accel- 
erated action  of  the  heart,  which  often  leads  to  fatal  results. 

[98I 


You  cannot  run  an  engine  fifty  miles  an  hour  without  wear- 
ing it  out  in  half  the  time  for  which  it  might  otherwise  be 
serviceable.  Neither  can  the  complicated  human  machine 
be  overworked  without  similar  results. 

This  is  true  of  our  mental  and  spiritual  being,  quite  as 
much  as  of  the  physical.  In  order  to  sound  and  healthy 
action  an  essential  requisite  is  meditation.  By  this  is  meant 
faithful  direction  of  the  mind  to  worthy  subjects,  pondering 
their  nature,  tracing  their  relations,  and  yielding  to  their 
appropriate  influence. 

Meditation  is  a  kind  of  spiritual  rumination  by  which 
nourishment  is  extracted  from  ideas,  sweetness  and  soul 
vigor  from  the  very  aliment  which  supplies  them.  Reading 
and  hearing  are  for  the  higher  nature  what  eating  is  to  the 
body.  Meditation  is  the  digesting  process  which  extracts 
essential  elements  and  incorporates  them  into  the  spiritual 
being.  Judging  by  the  number  of  books  which  are  read 
and  of  newspapers  circulated,  and  of  sermons  and  lectures 
delivered,  the  present  generation  might  be  supposed  full  of 
sages.  Judged  by  the  stricter  standards,  the  estimate  might 
be  very  different.  Better  if  there  were  less  reading  and  hear- 
ing, but  more  thinking,  more  deliberate  and  thorough  ex- 
amination of  even  a  little  truth,  than  trifling  with  or  half  un- 
derstanding so  much!  Men  of  masterful  power  have  usually 
been  men  of  patient  thought.  From  the  lonely  heights  of 
meditation,  they  have  gained  wider  vision  of  existence,  and 
from  thence  have  come  down  to  educate  the  ideas  of  their 
fellows,  to  touch  the  springs  of  popular  action,  and  to 
change  the  destinies  of  the  world!  Such  men  as  Moses 
among  the  legislators,  David  among  the  kings,  Daniel 
among  statesmen,  Paul  among  preachers,  Luther  among 
reformers,  whose  souls  were  lifted  above  the  range  of  ma- 
terial interests,  sanctified  by  prayer  and  ennobled  by  com- 

[99] 


Sl^emoir  of  i^cntp  €titoarti  Ij^ile^ 

munion  with  Heaven.  Their  meditation  of  Him  was  sweet, 
they  were  glad  in  the  Lord. 

How  is  it  with  you,  my  hearer?  Have  you  found  this 
habit  delightful  and  soul-profitable?  Or  are  you  so  little 
accustomed  to  the  exercise  that  it  seems  irksome,  bewilder- 
ing, and  unsatisfactory  when  you  try  to  engage  in  it?  It 
is  difficult  and  unsatisfying  just  in  proportion  to  the  infre- 
quency  of  its  performance.  King  David  "  loved  the  law  of 
God  "  all  the  more  because  in  that  law  he  did  "  meditate 
day  and  night."  But  Philip  Henry,  speaking  of  the  natural 
aversion  to  patient  thought,  said,  "  It  is  easier  to  go  six 
miles  to  hear  a  sermon  than  to  spend  one-quarter  of  an  hour 
in  thinking  it  over  when  we  have  reached  home!  " 

Many,  moreover,  there  is  reason  to  believe,  shrink  from 
the  habit  not  only  as  difficult,  but  also  as  gloomy  and  de- 
pressing. They  associate  it  with  the  dark  experiences  of 
human  life,  rather  than  with  those  which  are  bathed  with 
sunshine  and  vocal  with  the  music  of  joy.  They  think  of 
it  as  appropriate  to  the  dejected,  not  the  happy;  for  funerals, 
not  for  festivals,  for  burials  rather  than  bridals.  But  the 
Psalmist  evidently  did  not  think  so,  for  he  speaks  of  medi- 
tation as  "  sweet "  to  his  spirit,  as  an  exercise  that  made 
him  "  glad  in  the  Lord."  He  did  not  find  it  "  a  gloomy 
thing  "  to  turn  aside  from  the  cares  of  kingcraft  and  the 
distractions  of  worldly  engagement,  to  hold  communion 
with  the  sovereign  of  the  universe,  the  centre  of  excellence, 
the  fountain  of  purest  joy! 

Neither  did  our  Savior  show  that  the  spirit  of  religion  is 
inconsistent  with  the  purest  of  earthly  pleasures.  At  the 
marriage  in  Cana  of  Galilee  He  mingled  with  the  happy 
before  He  went  to  weep  with  the  sorrowing. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  Savior's  presence 
greatly  enhanced  the  gladness  of  that  festive  scene.     And 


flr^mioir  of  i$mtp  €tiljjarti  ^iW 

so  it  ought  always  to  be.  It  ought  to  be  esteemed  the  high- 
est privilege  to  have  communion  with  that  Divine  Friend 
who  is  revealed  in  so  many  aspects  of  goodness  and  beauty, 
and  in  the  celebration  of  whose  glories  the  highest  intelli- 
gences in  the  universe  rejoice.  Of  Him  ought  every  Chris- 
tian to  say,  "  My  meditation  shall  be  sweet." 

1st.  My  meditation  of  Him  as  made  known  in  His  works. 
Throughout  the  kingdom  of  nature  are  evidences  of  divine 
wisdom,  power,  and  skill  sufficient  to  command  the  atten- 
tion, and  stimulate  the  researches,  and  excite  the  wonder- 
ing praises  of  every  intelligent  beholder.  "  The  heavens 
declare  God's  glory,  and  the  firmament  showeth  His  handi- 
work." "  The  earth  is  full  of  His  riches;  so  also  is  the  great 
wide  sea,  wherein  are  things  creeping  innumerable,  both 
small  and  great  beasts!  "  This  world  is  one  vast  panorama 
of  beauty,  grandeur,  and  mystery. 

"  These  are  Thy  glorious  works,  Parent  of  Good  ! 
Almighty!     Thine  this  universal  frame, 
Thus  wondrous  fair  !     Thyself  how  wondrous  then  !  " 

It  is  a  blessed  privilege  thus  to  recognize  God  in  Nature ! 
to  go  forth  amid  the  evidences  of  infinite  wisdom,  power,  and 
goodness  and  be  lifted  up  and  purified  by  contemplation  of 
them.  But  how  often  when  the  opportunity  is  given  is  the 
lack  of  ability  plainly  manifest !  So  unused  to  Nature  as  not 
to  know  how  to  enjoy  it!  Look  at  the  men,  jaded,  worn, 
driven  almost  to  death  with  business  cares,  yet  who  have  so 
little  knowledge  of  Nature  that  they  are  awkward  and  un- 
sympathetic, amid  her  most  enchanting  scenes. 

As  someone  has  said,  "  They  have  plenty  to  retire  on, 
but  nothing  to  retire  to!  "  So  they  stand  in  their  tracks, 
grind  away  at  the  mill,  starve  their  souls  as  to  noblest  aliment 
and  support,  and  at  length  are  snuffed  out  in  premature  ex- 
haustion! 

[lOl] 


Or,  of  those  that  do  go  on  vacation,  how  many  who  know 
not  how  to  improve  it? 

See  them  in  the  rail  car,  men  and  women,  young  and  old, 
gliding,  it  may  be,  through  some  of  the  loveHest  landscapes 
of  earth,  yet  scarcely  bestowing  a  glance  upon  them!  Some 
engaged  in  commonplace  talk.  Some  poring  over  the  daily 
newspaper,  even  to  the  advertisements.  Some  reading 
cheap  novels,  some  discussing  matters  of  business  or  poli- 
tics, or  amusements,  and  some  often  fretting  because  the 
train  does  not  whirl  them  more  rapidly  along  the  way!  High 
pressure  all  the  time !  Putting  their  vacations  through  in  a 
feverish,  extravagant  style  that  destroys  both  the  pleasure 
and  the  profit!  They  must  go  in  the  fashionable  routes, 
stop  at  the  fashionable  places,  tire  themselves  out  with 
fashionable  amusements,  till  they  return  home  at  length 
perhaps  more  jaded  and  unnerved  than  when  they  went 
away!  How  different  the  case  of  those  who,  "in  the  love 
of  Nature,  seek  communion  with  her  varied  forms,"  and  are 
led  by  them  up  to  Nature's  God! 

Secondly.  Another  field  for  meditation  is  God's  works 
of  providence.  "  Most  holy,  wise  and  powerful,  preserving 
and  governing  all  His  creatures  and  all  their  actions!  " 

Wonderful  doctrine!  Laden  with  suggestions  of  com- 
fort and  encouragement  for  the  devout  Christian!  God's 
counsels  are  of  old,  from  eternity.  His  providence  is  but 
the  execution  of  those  decrees.  Oftentimes  obscure  or  in- 
explicable, that  providence  is  always  wise  and  just  and  good. 
It  is  directed  by  infallible  wisdom  for  the  accomplishment 
of  noblest  ends.  In  prosperity  the  Lord  tests  our  gratitude, 
in  mediocrity  our  contentment,  in  misfortune  our  submis- 
sion, in  temptation  our  steadfastness.  At  all  times  our 
obedience  and  trust. 

"  Blessed  is  that  disciple  who  has  been  in  the  school  of 

C  102  ] 


Divine  Providence  and  has  learned  his  lessons  well!  "  As 
the  Psalmist  wrote,  "  I  will  remember  Thy  wonders  of  old ! 
I  will  meditate  on  Thy  work  and  talk  of  Thy  doings!  " 

Thirdly.  In  the  next  place  meditation  upon  the  Word  of 
God  is,  to  an  appreciative  soul,  very  sweet.  Milton's  "  Para- 
dise Lost "  is  poetry,  Bacon's  treatises  are  philosophy, 
Burke's  orations  are  eloquence,  but  the  Word  of  divine  in- 
spiration is  supreme  with  wisdom,  purity,  and  power.  Writ- 
ten as  no  other  book  has  been  written,  published  in  more 
languages  than  any  other,  circulated  in  so  many  forms, 
tested  by  so  many  unanswerable  evidences,  this  Bible  of 
God  is  destined  more  and  more  to  be  acknowledged  as  the 
text  book  and  standard  for  all  people.  What  does  the  In- 
finite declare  concerning  His  own  Word?  "  It  shall  not  re- 
turn to  Me  void,  but  it  shall  accomplish  that  which  I  please 
and  shall  prosper  in  the  thing  whereunto  I  sent  it." 

The  empire  of  the  Csesars  has  passed  away,  the  conquer- 
ing legions  of  Rome  have  been  disbanded,  the  Imperial 
Guards  of  the  great  Napoleon  are  no  more.  Princely  Tyre 
is  now  a  barren  rock.  Babylon,  Carthage,  Thebes  are  as  if 
they  had  never  been,  but  "  the  Word  of  the  Lord  abideth  for- 
ever! "  / 

Fourthly.  In  this  Book  of  books,  the  central  figure  is 
Christ.  Concerning  Him,  every  Christian  may  say,  "  My 
meditation  shall  be  sweet."  What  name  in  any  language  so 
musical  and  full  of  meaning,  what  name  so  sweet  on  earth 
or  sweet  in  Heaven  as  this,  before  His  wondrous  birth,  to 
Christ,  the  Savior,  given?  "  Thou  shalt  call  His  name 
Jesus,"  said  the  angel,  "  for  He  shall  save  His  people  from 
their  sins."  From  the  penalty  of  sins,  because  He  hath  borne 
punishment  in  our  stead.  From  the  power  of  sin ;  that  na- 
tive tendency  and  wayward  habit  which  would,  otherwise, 
govern  with  tyrant  sway  and  lead  the  captive  subject,  con- 

[  103  ] 


trary  to  his  better  convictions,  often  contrary  to  his  real 
purposes  and  aims.  For  this  He  loved  the  Church  and  gave 
Himself  up  for  it,  "  that  He  might  sanctify  and  cleanse  it 
with  the  washing  of  water  by  the  Word,  that  He  might 
present  it  to  Himself  a  glorious  Church,  not  having  spot,  or 
wrinkle,  or  any  such  thing,  but  that  it  should  be  holy  and 
without  blemish." 

Is  not  that  the  very  consummation  for  which  every  true 
disciple  of  Jesus  aspires?  Is  not  that  "  the  kingdom  "  for 
which  earnest  believers  continually  pray?  An  empire,  every 
subject  of  which  shall  appear  clothed  in  the  spotless  robe  of 
redemption!  A  Paradise  through  whose  fadeless  bowers 
not  a  single  trail  of  the  Old  Serpent  shall  be  seen!  Well 
may  His  name  be  called  "  Jesus,"  who  is  the  Head  of  such  a 
Kingdom,  and  concerning  Him  our  meditations  may  ever 
be  "  sweet." 

There  are  other  titles  also  applied  to  our  Savior  by  the 
inspired  Word,  each  of  which  is  full  of  significance.  When 
oppressed  by  conscious  guilt  and  ruin  we  may  meditate  on 
His  name,  "  Jehovah  Tsidkenu  (the  Lord,  our  righteous- 
ness!)." When  disquieted  with  trouble,  on  His  name,  "  Je- 
hovah Shalom  (the  Lord,  send  peace!)."  When  struggling 
with  spiritual  adversaries,  on  His  name,  "  Jehovah  Nissi  (the 
Lord,  our  Banner!)."  When  enfeebled  by  sickness,  on  His 
name,  "Jehovah  Rophi  (the  Lord,  our  Healer!)."  When 
anxious  about  future  comforts,  on  His  name,  "  Jehovah 
Jireth  (the  Lord  will  provide),"  and  when  the  thought  of 
darkest  experiences,  even  as  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death,  confronts  us,  we  may  meditate  on  that  name,  "  Je- 
hovah Shammah  (the  Lord,  is  there!)." 

Finally,  every  believer  may  think  of  Jesus  as  a  per- 
sonal friend,  one  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother.  Look 
at  that  record  in  the  Gospel  history!     What  illustrations 

[  104] 


does  it  give  of  His  unmeasured  kindness  and  readiness  to 
help!  See  Him,  from  the  beginning  of  His  Hfe  work,  mani- 
festing tender  sympathy  for  the  suffering  and  needy,  break- 
ing over  the  conventionalisms  of  society,  sitting  at  the 
Pharisee's  table,  going  to  the  house  of  the  publican,  con- 
versing at  the  well  with  the  Samaritan  woman,  becoming  a 
guest  of  Zaccheus,  no  sanctimoniousness  in  His  bearing,  no 
exclusiveness  in  His  habit,  willing  to  eat  and  drink  with 
notorious  sinners,  and  to  be  called  "  their  friend,"  if  only 
He  might  do  them  good  and  save  their  souls! 

O!  He  never  seemed  so  tender  as  when  He  was  deaHng 
with  such!  He  never  preached  so  sweetly  as  when  He  was 
expostulating  with  such,  or  when  inviting  them,  weary  and 
heavy  laden,  to  come  to  Him  for  rest. 

And,  as  He  preached  to  sinners,  so  He  prayed  for  them, 
prayed  all  night,  sometimes  on  the  cold  mountains  and  in 
the  garden  shades!  Prayed  until  He  sweat,  as  it  were,  great 
drops  of  blood  falling  down  to  the  ground.  At  length  He 
died  for  sinners,  received  the  fiery  sword  of  justice,  which 
otherwise  would  have  fallen  upon  them!  He  went  into  the 
grave  for  them!  For  them  submitted  three  days  to  the  dis- 
honors of  the  tomb!  For  them  He  rose  again,  and  finally 
ascended,  angels  escorting  Him  to  His  heavenly  seat. 

"  They  brought  His  chariot  from  on  high, 
To  bear  Him  to  His  throne, 
Clapped  their  triumphant  wings  and  cried, 
'The  glorious  work  is  done!'" 

'Twas  done  for  sinners!  The  scattered  gifts  of  His  coro- 
nation, the  royal  bounties  of  His  Kingdom  are  for  us!  And 
now,  on  the  throne,  He  ever  liveth  to  give  repentance  and 
remission  of  sins  to  those  who  turn  to  Him  in  the  appointed 
way. 

[^05] 


a^cmok  of  i^enrp  €tihjarti  ^iit^ 

How  is  it  with  you,  my  hearer?  Is  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
your  Savior?  Do  you  love  to  think  of  Him  through  whom 
alone  any  lost  child  of  Adam  can  be  delivered  from  ruin  and 
admitted  to  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven?  Are  you  resting  im- 
plicitly upon  Him  who  "  executeth  the  offices  of  prophet, 
priest,  and  king  "  in  behalf  of  his  people?  If  so,  you  have 
reason  to  delight  in  Him  whose  works  are  perfection,  whose 
word  is  wisdom,  whose  names  are  glorious,  and  whose  smile 
is  life  for  the  soul. 

As  to  the  time  for  meditation  I  can  only  add  it  may  be 
any  time,  at  midnight,  or  cock-crow,  or  in  the  morning,  just 
whenever  the  spirit  desires  communion  with  God  and  with 
noblest  truths.  Meditation  before  prayer  is  especially  ap- 
propriate. It  is  like  the  tuning  of  an  instrument  and  setting- 
it  for  harmony  before  the  anthem  begins ! 

As  to  the  place  for  meditation,  it  may  be  anywhere. 

Devout  souls  can  think  and  pray  and  praise  in  the  closet, 
in  the  parlor,  in  the  office,  in  the  shop,  on  the  street,  on  the 
mountain  side,  in  the  leafy  forest,  by  the  shore  or  the  sound- 
ing sea,  just  wherever  circumstances  suggest.  You  have 
only  to  recall  your  mind  and  seclude  your  spirit,  and  give 
yourself  up  to  the  guidance  of  the  Great  Teacher,  the  Holy 
Ghost.  So  shall  you  feel  God's  presence  anywhere.  So 
shall  your  meditation  of  Him  be  sweet,  and  you  shall  be 
"glad  in  the  Lord!" 


[io6] 


fll^enioir  of  l^enrp  €DUjarti  l^ile^ 


Genesis  xlvii.  8:  ^^  How  old  art  thouf' 

The  scene  pictured  before  us  in  this  chapter  is  a  presenta- 
tion at  court.  A  gray-haired,  venerable  man  who  had  not 
been  accustomed  to  such  splendor  is  introduced  to  a  royal 
palace,  adorned  with  all  the  barbaric  magnificence  of  the 
most  ancient  and,  at  that  time,  the  most  powerful  mon- 
archy in  the  world.  Far  away  from  courts  his  life  had 
been  spent,  guarding  flocks  on  the  hills  of  Palestine,  caring 
for  his  numerous  household  and  listening  to  those  mys- 
terious, awe-inspiring,  yet  gracious  revelations  that  came 
down  to  him  from  the  Infinite.  Sorrow  and  sin  had  been 
mingled  with  his  experience,  with  much  of  piety  and  exalted 
privilege.  He  had  often  erred  and  bitterly  suffered.  Yet 
he  had  maintained  the  character  of  one  who  sincerely  chose 
the  service  of  Jehovah,  and  as  such  he  had  been  abundantly 
rewarded.  He  had  seen  visions  of  the  Almighty,  and  had 
dreamed  golden  dreams.  He  had  slept  at  Bethel,  and  be- 
held a  ladder  reaching  from  earth  to  Heaven.  He  had  so 
journeyed  as  an  exile  in  Padan  Aram,  and  had  been  pros- 
pered under  the  smile  of  Divine  Providence.  He  had  set 
up  the  heap  of  witness  at  Mizpah,  and  met  the  angels  of 
God  at  Mahanaim.  He  had  wrestled  with  the  angel  of  the 
covenant  at  Peniel,  and  set  up  an  altar  at  El  Bethel.  He  had 
buried  his  beloved  Rachel  at  Bethlehem,  and  had,  by  a 
series  of  painful  domestic  experiences,  been  separated  from 
his  son  Joseph,  for  whom  he  had  mourned  as  one  dead.  At 
length  he  had  learned  that,  instead  of  having  been  "  de- 
voured by  wild  beasts,"  that  long-lost  son  had,  by  the  lead- 
ings of  mysterious  Providence,  been  taken  down  into  Egypt 
and  become  exalted  as  governor,  under  King  Pharaoh. 
When  the  tidings  of  this  wonderful  fact  were  brought  to 

[  107  ] 


him  and  that  he  had  been  sent  for  to  leave  his  famine-stricken 
country  and  go  and  dwell  in  that  land  of  plenty,  where  he 
might  enjoy  the  society  and  filial  care  of  his  honored  son, 
it  seemed  almost  too  good  to  be  true!  But  when  he  saw 
the  wagons  which  Joseph  had  actually  sent  to  carry  him 
and  his  household  down  to  his  new  home,  we  are  told  that 
the  spirit  of  Jacob  revived,  and  he  said:  "It  is  enough! 
my  son  is  yet  alive.  I  will  go  down  and  see  him  before  I 
die!  "  Now,  the  journey  has  been  made!  The  one  whom 
he  had  supposed  long  dead  has  met  him  on  the  borders  of 
the  country  riding  in  a  royal  chariot  to  bring  him  to  the 
place  appointed  for  his  future  residence! 

Wonderful  experience!  What  a  throng  of  tender  recol- 
lections and  emotions  must  have  rushed  into  his  mind!  How 
the  form  of  his  loved  Rachel  must  have  appeared  before 
him,  as  he  caught  her  features  imprinted  on  that  manly  face! 
How  the  promises  of  God  must  have  been  remembered  then, 
as  he  saw  more  clearly  their  progressive  fulfilment!  And, 
when  that  noble  son  "  fell  on  his  neck  and  wept  on  his  neck 
a  good  while,"  no  wonder  that  the  heart  of  Israel  was  full 
almost  to  bursting,  so  that  he  exclaimed,  "  Now  let  me  die, 
for  I  have  seen  thy  face,  because  thou  art  yet  alive!  " 

In  due  time,  when  recovered  a  little  from  his  agitation 
and  accustomed  somewhat  to  his  new  surroundings,  this 
patriarch  was  brought  to  the  royal  palace  to  be  introduced 
to  the  king.  And  Pharaoh  said  to  Jacob  (just  what  he 
thought  natural  to  say  to  a  venerable  old  man — what  we 
often  want  to  say  when  delicacy  seems  to  forbid) :  "  How  old 
art  thou?  "  And  Jacob  replied  (mark  how  it  always  seems 
when  one  looks  back  across  the  fleeting  experience  of  past 
life !) :  "  The  days  of  the  years  of  my  pilgrimage  are  an  hun- 
dred and  thirty  years.  Few  and  evil  have  the  days  of  the 
years  of  my  life  been,  and  have  not  attained  unto  the  days 

[io8] 


of  the  years  of  the  hfe  of  my  fathers  in  the  days  of  their  pil- 
grimage! " 

Yes!  However  long  and  attractive  life  may  seem  in  pros- 
pect— as  one  looks  forward  to  the  sunny  heights  of  youth, 
how  different  it  appears  in  review,  as  contemplated  in  near- 
ness to  the  grave!  How  noiselessly,  how  almost  imper- 
ceptibly, have  the  years  glided  by!  From  youth  to  man- 
hood, how  short  the  step!  From  manhood  to  middle  age, 
shorter  still!  From  middle  to  old  age,  we  hardly  know  the 
change! 

"  No  snow  falls  so  lightly  as  the  snow  of  age, 
None  rests  so  heavily,  for  it  never  melts." 

We  all  are  growing  older!  In  a  few  hours  the  knell  of 
1899  will  tell  us  "  one  year  less  to  live!  "  Compared  with 
that  eternity  toward  which  we  are  hastening  how  short  the 
period,  whatever  it  be,  which  we  have  passed!  Compared 
with  our  original  plans  and  ambitions,  how  little  have  we 
done.  We,  at  least,  who  are  furthest  advanced  and  have 
but  small  opportunity  to  repair  our  mistakes,  what  reason 
have  we  for  regrets  and  shame? 

Even  if,  by  the  good  Providence  of  God,  we  have  been 
spared  from  great  disappointments  and  crushing  sorrows, 
in  how  many  respects  have  we  brought  evil  upon  ourselves. 
In  view  of  so  many  failings  and  shortcomings,  what  can  we 
say?  In  view  of  the  objects  eagerly  longed  for,  but  never 
gained,  of  noble  attainments  descried  in  the  distance  like  far- 
ofif  islands  of  the  sea,  but  which  change  to  clouds  as  they 
are  approached,  what  a  sense  of  incompleteness  and  unsatis- 
factoriness  we  must  feel.  When  we  think  of  friends  once 
cherished  but  now  separated  from  us  forever  and  prospects 
once  pleasing  now  blighted  forever,  how  natural  the  pa- 
triarch's expression,  "  Few  and  evil  have  the  days  of  the 
years  of  my  Hfe  been." 

[  109] 


At  such  times  and  with  such  convictions,  what  do  the 
aged  need  so  emphatically  as  the  power  of  the  Gospel, 
as  the  comforts  of  our  holy  religion,  with  its  pleasing  medi- 
tations, its  delicious  acts  of  confidence,  its  soul-satisfying 
experiences!  Sad,  indeed,  is  the  spectacle  of  infirmity  and 
decay  unaccompanied  by  the  hopes  of  religion!  It  is  like 
the  going  down  of  a  sun  that  is  to  be  succeeded  by  no 
rising,  or  like  the  gathering  shades  of  a  night  which  will 
be  followed  by  no  returning  day !  The  aged  Christian,  when 
about  finishing  his  journey,  and  the  aged  sinner  in  the  same 
case,  present  a  most  impressive  contrast.  The  one  has 
what  he  most  needs,  the  other  most  needs  what  he  does 
not  possess!  He  is  a  hopeless  wanderer  on  the  desert  of 
life  with  no  provision  for  that  to  which  he  is  going.  But 
the  Christian,  confessing  himself  a  "  pilgrim  and  a  stranger  " 
here,  goes  confidently  forward,  his  pathway  illumined  by 
the  grace  of  God  and  by  the  light  of  the  heavenly  glory. 
Of  him  only  can  it  be  said, 

"  Then  weaned  from  earth,  he  turns  his  steadfast  eye, 
Beyond  the  grave  whose  verge  he  falters  nigh, 
Surveys  the  brightening  regions  of  the  blest, 
And,  like  a  wearied  pilgrim,  sinks  to  rest." 

An  old  adage  says,  "  That  life  is  long  which  answers  life's 
great  end."  As  true  as  it  is  familiar.  According  to  this 
rule,  let  each  one  ask  himself,  at  this  close  of  another  year, 
"  How  old  art  thou?  " 

It  is  a  solemn  question  to  you  and  for  me;  and  for  every 
intelligent  person  who  knows  that  he  is  an  accountable  be- 
ing. To  this  question  I  reply:  First.  There  is  none  of  us 
so  old  as  Jacob  and  none  of  us  expects  to  live  so  long. 

"  One  hundred  and  thirty  years  "  he  had  already  seen,  and 
nearly  twenty  more  would  be  added  to  his  age!     But,  in 

[no] 


later  generations,  the  usual  limit  has  been  three-score  years 
and  ten,  perchance  four-score,  possibly  ninety! — in  only  a 
very  few  cases  any  more,  or  if  there  be  more,  "  yet  is  their 
strength,  labor  and  sorrow!  "  As  for  the  majority  in  any 
congregation,  it  is  sure  that  they  will  not  live  to  be  "  old." 
The  flood  will  carry  them  away  before  that  term  can  apply 
to  them. 

How  short  the  time  seems  since  last  we  exchanged  the 
New  Year  salutations!  The  sands  of  the  coming  year  will 
fall  yet  more  swiftly  into  the  glass;  and  so  it  will  be  with 
each  recurring  one  until  the  last !  Story  is  told  of  an  Italian 
state  prisoner  who,  after  some  weeks'  confinement  in  his  cell, 
became  aware  that  the  apartment  was  every  day  becoming 
smaller.  He  saw  with  horror  that  a  movable  iron  partition 
was  gradually  encroaching  on  the  space,  and  that  if  the 
movement  went  on  it  must  at  length  certainly  crush  him  to 
death  against  the  opposite  wall!  Similar  to  that  is  our  con- 
dition. True,  we  cannot,  like  him,  see  the  limits  of  life 
growing  narrower  and  narrower  every  day,  nor  can  we  cal- 
culate just  how  soon  will  be  the  crisis,  but  we  know  that 
each  day  we  live  makes  the  number  less  that  we  have  to 
spend !  If  so,  the  argument  for  living  well  becomes  stronger 
and  stronger  every  day!  If  so,  how  thoughtful  we  ought 
to  be  at  the  close  of  another  year! 

In  the  second  place,  to  everyone  who  is  a  Christian  comes 
the  question:  "How  old  art  thou?"  When  were  you 
born  into  the  kingdom  of  grace?  What  was  the  date  of 
your  spiritual  birth?  Or,  if  you  cannot  tell  the  very  mo- 
ment when  you  "  passed  from  death  into  life,"  how  long 
have  you  been  conscious  of  real  desires  to  be  Christ's  and  to 
serve  Him  in  newness  of  hfe  ?  What  attainments  have  you 
made  in  knowledge  of  truth,  in  the  cultivation  of  faith,  in 
patience,  in  self-control,  in  Christian  love,  and  joy  and  peace? 

[Ill] 


a^cmok  of  ipentp  oBtittjarti  i^ilejf 

What  good  have  you  done?  Who  has  been  benefited  by 
your  labors,  your  gifts,  your  prayers,  and  your  sacrifices  for 
Christ  and  His  cause? 

Surely,  you  are  old  enough  to  have  been  more  useful  in 
this  world.  You  and  I,  each  of  us,  ought  to  have  been 
more  watchful  for  opportunities,  more  prayerful  for  wisdom 
in  improving  them,  more  careful  in  discerning  what  are  the 
best  agencies  to  be  employed.  There  have  been  around  us 
many  gnawings  of  hunger  to  be  fed,  many  pangs  of  loneli- 
ness to  be  allayed,  many  tears  of  sorrow  to  be  dried,  many 
shadows  of  ignorance  to  be  lightened,  many  inquiries  after 
truth  to  be  answered,  many  burdens  of  guilt  to  be  brought 
to  the  Savior  of  sinners.  Oh,  my  brother,  my  sister,  what 
can  we  say  in  review  of  the  past,  what  must  we  say  when 
our  real  record  is  compared  with  the  possibilities  which  were 
before  us,  and  with  the  obligations  under  which  we  have 
lived! 

Are  we  not  old  enough  to  be  better  Christians,  more  pure, 
more  prayerful,  more  spiritually  minded,  more  truly  Christ- 
like? 

Ought  we  not,  by  the  help  of  divine  grace,  to  have 
"  added  to  our  faith,  virtue,  and  to  virtue  knowledge,  and 
to  knowledge  temperance,  and  to  temperance  patience," 
yea,  the  whole  list  of  Christian  graces,  that  with  these 
abounding  in  us,  we  should  be  "  neither  barren  nor  unfruit- 
ful in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ." 

Oh,  how  much  nearer  we  might  have  come  to  the  standard 
of  worthy  living,  how  much  more  into  sympathy  with  angels 
and  "  the  saints  made  perfect  "  around  the  throne.  Surely 
we  have  reason  to  be  humble  for  the  past  and  to  "  redeem 
the  time  "  that  remains  in  more  assiduous  consecration  to 
the  Master's  service. 

We  have  reason  to  consider  what  is  the  type  of  piety  espe- 

[112] 


cially  needed  at  the  present  day.  Not  a  spasmodic,  emo- 
tional, world-compromising  religion,  but  that  which  is 
steady,  principled,  practical;  a  kind  of  religion  that  has  in  it 
some  of  the  stern,  self-denying,  sin-hating  spirit  which 
apostles  and  martyrs  showed  in  former  times.  A  religion 
which  turns  away  from  the  blandishments  of  worldly  temp- 
tation and  prefers  the  ways  of  truth,  purity,  and  holiness. 
A  religion  which  has  fire  in  it  that  consumes  sin,  and  mercy 
in  it  that  pities  sinners,  and  love  in  it  that  leads  them  to  the 
cross  of  salvation. 

Yes,  indeed,  we  are  old  enough  to  put  ofif  quiescent, 
negative  qualities,  and  to  put  on  the  whole  armor  of  active, 
aggressive  godliness. 

We  are  old  enough  to  be  more  "  spiritually  minded  "  and 
to  act  it  out  in  all  the  ways  of  godly  living.  We  are  old 
enough  to  enjoy  a  confirmed  Christian  hope;  carrying  that 
hope,  not  as  a  boy  carries  a  bird's  nest  containing  unfledged 
nestlings  which  can  scarcely  peep,  much  less  sing;  but  rather 
as  a  full-grown  songster,  ready  whenever  the  cords  of 
worldly  occupation  are  loosed  to  rise  and  sing  and  soar 
toward  Heaven. 

Thirdly.  And  now  to  those  who  do  not  point  to  any 
spiritual  birthday  comes  the  solemn,  searching  question. 
Have  you  not  begun  the  real  hfe?  Not  yet  turned  to  Christ 
the  Savior?  Not  yet  taken  any  decided  steps  toward 
Heaven?  Oh,  my  friends,  whoever  you  are,  whatever  your 
ages  or  circumstances,  you  are  old  enough  to  know  that  you 
are  sinners,  to  realize  the  dreadful  fact;  and  to  feel  what  work 
you  have  for  repentance.  You  are  old  enough  to  stop  act- 
ing unwisely,  to  stop  violating  the  decisions  of  conscience 
and  grieving  the  Holy  Spirit. 

The  youngest  here  is  so  great  a  sinner  that  he  cannot  do 
without  Christ,  the  loving  Savior,  and  for  the  oldest  it  is 


not  too  late  if  he  will  make  haste  to  enter  the  open  door  of 
salvation.  To  everyone  the  warnings,  invitations,  and 
promises  of  the  Gospel  are,  alike,  addressed;  and  for  each 
it  is  madness  to  neglect.  The  importance  of  life  as  a  period 
of  probation  (wrote  Albert  Barnes)  "  steadily  increases  as 
we  come  toward  the  end,  and  see  a  vast  eternity  not  far 
before  us.  The  interests  at  stake  grow  larger  and  larger, 
while  earthly  things  which  usually  occupy  the  attention  of 
mankind  dwindle  almost  to  nothing.  Suppose  our  earth 
which,  now,  moves  in  an  orbit  of  95,000,000  of  miles  from 
the  sun,  should  leave  that  orbit  and  make  its  way  in  a  direct 
line  towards  the  sun,  how  rapidly  would  the  sun  seem  to  en- 
large its  dimensions.  How  much  greater  and  brighter 
would  it  appear  and,  by  comparison,  how  would  our  earth 
sink  into  insignificance!  So,  it  appears  to  me,  is  human 
life.  In  earlier  years,  eternity  seems  far  away  in  impor- 
tance. But,  at  the  period  which  I  have  now  reached,  it 
seems  to  me  as  if  the  earth  had  left  its  orbit  and  the  objects 
of  eternity,  toward  which  I  am  being  swiftly  carried,  rapidly 
enlarge  themselves.  They  seem  overwhelmingly  bright  and 
grand.  They  fill  the  field  of  vision  while  all  that  is  the  com- 
mon object  of  human  ambition  seems  retiring  in  the  distance 
and  vanishing  away!  "  * 

"  How  old  art  thou?  "  Old  enough,  I  am  sure,  to  feel 
the  truthfulness  and  the  pathos  of  such  an  utterance  from 
one  who  has  long  been  within  the  veil!  Old  enough  to 
consider  the  supreme  importance  of  those  invisible  realities, 
toward  which  with  the  swiftness  of  time  we  are  all  hasten- 
ing! This  is  the  last  day  of  1899!  At  the  coming  mid- 
night the  gates  of  eternity  will  open  to  admit  into  the  irrev- 
ocable past,  the  old  year!  "  At  the  stroke  of  12  the  patri- 
arch will  fall  dead  and  the  stars  will  be  his  funeral  torches!  " 

*  Barnes's  "  Life  at  Three-score,"  p.  26. 
[114] 


^tmmt  of  i^eiirp  (t^DUjarU  ^xW 

Then  another  "  New  Year  "  shall  be  ushered  in — the  last 
of  the  century.  What  its  history  for  each  one  of  us,  God 
only  knows.  "  Our  times  are  in  His  hands,"  and  we  want 
grace  to  trust  Him  with  impHcit  confidence. 

But  for  ourselves  it  is  a  practical  question,  "  What  shall 
the  New  Year  be? "  Are  we  willing  to  say,  "  No  better 
than  the  past?  " 

Could  we  take  the  old  record  and  write  down  against  its 
pages,  "  Such  is  my  standard.  That  is  the  way  I  fain  would 
spend  my  time,  be  it  longer  or  shorter,  until  I  am  called  to 
the  final  account?  " 

If  the  very  suggestion  is  appalling,  if  you  shrink  at  the 
idea  of  such  self-righteousness,  then  what  is  the  practical 
conclusion?  Review!  Repentance!  Resolutions  for  better 
living!  Yes,  "Resolutions"  !  Don't  allow  that  cheat  of 
Satan,  "  Afraid  to  make  new  resolutions  lest  they  be  soon 
forgotten  and  not  kept!  "  You  need  not  forget  them!  As 
an  intelligent  moral  being  you  must  not  forget  them! 
Trusting  the  promises  of  Divine  grace  you  should  depend 
on  help  of  the  Almighty.  Looking  to  Him  who  is  the 
hearer  of  prayer,  this  should  be  the  attitude  of  your  spirit, 
"  So  teach  us  to  number  our  days  that  we  may  apply  our 
hearts  unto  wisdom  "  ;  that  wisdom  which  ensures  everlast- 
ing Hfe  and  blessedness,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord! 


[rrs] 


■MJ^^r-.'''.Av^"; 


